Annual Physical vs. Medicare Annual Wellness Visit: What’s the Difference?

A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit and a comprehensive annual physical may sound similar, but they are not the same type of appointment.

Understanding the difference can help you know what to expect, what Medicare may cover, which preventive services may be discussed, and whether you need a more traditional physical examination in addition to a Medicare wellness visit.

The simplest distinction is this:

A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is primarily a preventive planning visit. A traditional annual physical is generally a broader medical visit that may include a hands-on physical examination and a more individualized review of your current health.

If you are looking for a more complete overview of a traditional yearly examination, read our annual physical checklist and guide or learn about annual physical exams in Orland Park at IASIS Boutique Health.

Quick Answer: Is a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit the Same as an Annual Physical?

No.

A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, or AWV, is not the same as a routine annual physical examination.

According to Medicare, the Annual Wellness Visit is designed to develop or update a personalized prevention plan based on your health and risk factors. It typically includes a health risk assessment, review of your medical and family history, medication review, routine measurements, cognitive assessment, preventive screening planning, and personalized health advice.

It is not designed to be a traditional head-to-toe physical examination.

A comprehensive annual physical may involve:

• Review of current symptoms and health concerns
• Medical and family history review
• Medication and supplement review
• Blood pressure and other vital signs
• A physician-led physical examination
• Review of chronic conditions
• Laboratory testing when medically appropriate
• Discussion of cardiovascular and metabolic risk
• Review of age- and risk-appropriate screenings
• Vaccination review
• A personalized follow-up plan

The exact components of a physical should depend on your age, medical history, symptoms, medications, risk factors, and physician's clinical judgment.

Annual Physical vs. Medicare Annual Wellness Visit: Side-by-Side Comparison

This comparison is general. Specific services, coverage, and patient costs depend on the situation, provider, insurance plan, and services performed.

What Is a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is a preventive visit available to eligible Medicare Part B beneficiaries.

Its purpose is to help you and your healthcare provider identify health risks and create or update a personalized prevention plan.

Medicare describes the visit as conversation- and prevention-focused rather than a routine physical examination.

You can review the official Medicare explanation of the yearly Medicare Wellness Visit.

What Happens During a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?

The visit generally includes several preventive components.

Your provider may:

• Complete or update a health risk assessment
• Review your medical history
• Review your family medical history
• Review your medications and supplements
• Review the physicians and healthcare professionals involved in your care
• Measure height, weight, blood pressure, and other appropriate measurements
• Assess your risk for falls and problems with activities of daily living
• Review behavioral and psychosocial risks
• Evaluate for possible cognitive impairment
• Review potential substance-use risks
• Discuss appropriate preventive services
• Create or update a personalized screening schedule
• Provide personalized health advice
• Discuss advance care planning if you choose

The goal is to identify risks and organize preventive care—not simply to perform tests because another calendar year has passed.

Is There a Physical Exam During a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit includes certain measurements and assessments, but Medicare specifically states that the Annual Wellness Visit is not a routine physical examination.

That distinction is one of the biggest sources of confusion for patients.

You may arrive expecting a traditional physical and instead spend much of the appointment discussing:

• Your medical history
• Family history
• Medications
• Fall risk
• Mental and cognitive health
• Screening needs
• Vaccinations
• Lifestyle risks
• Your preventive-care schedule

Those are valuable areas of preventive care, but they are not the same thing as a comprehensive hands-on physical examination.

What Is Included in a Traditional Annual Physical?

A traditional annual physical is generally designed to give your physician a broader opportunity to evaluate your overall health.

The exact visit varies from patient to patient.

A comprehensive physical may include:

• Discussion of new or ongoing symptoms
• Review of medical and surgical history
• Family history review
• Medication and supplement review
• Blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and other measurements
• Physical examination based on your health needs
• Review of previous laboratory results
• Laboratory testing when appropriate
• Blood sugar and diabetes-risk discussion
• Cholesterol and cardiovascular-risk review
• Kidney or liver monitoring when appropriate
• Screening recommendations
• Vaccination review
• Sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress, and lifestyle discussion
• Evaluation of chronic conditions
• A plan for follow-up

Our complete guide explains what may be included in an annual physical and what patients should expect.

Does Medicare Cover a Routine Annual Physical?

This is where the distinction becomes especially important.

Under Original Medicare, a routine physical examination performed without relation to treatment or diagnosis of a specific illness, symptom, complaint, or injury is generally not covered as a routine physical benefit.

Medicare instead provides specific preventive benefits, including the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit and the one-time “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit for eligible patients.

If additional medical evaluation, testing, or services are provided during a Medicare Wellness Visit, those services may be billed separately and may be subject to Medicare deductibles or coinsurance.

Before your appointment, it is reasonable to ask the office:

• Am I scheduling a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit or a physical exam?
• Will any services be billed separately?
• Are laboratory tests included in the visit?
• Will I have any deductible or coinsurance responsibility?
• Should I contact Medicare or my Medicare Advantage plan before the appointment?

If you have Medicare Advantage rather than Original Medicare, check your specific plan's coverage, network, and cost-sharing rules.

What Is the “Welcome to Medicare” Visit?

There is a third appointment that patients often confuse with both the Annual Wellness Visit and an annual physical.

It is officially called the Initial Preventive Physical Examination, or IPPE, but it is commonly known as the “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit.

This visit is available once during the first 12 months that you have Medicare Part B.

It may include:

• Review of medical and social history
• Review of preventive services
• Routine measurements
• Vision screening
• Assessment of safety and certain health risks
• Review of medications
• Discussion of advance directives
• Education and counseling about preventive services

The “Welcome to Medicare” visit is different from the yearly Annual Wellness Visit.

According to Medicare, your first Annual Wellness Visit cannot take place within 12 months of your Part B enrollment or within 12 months of your “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit.

You do not have to complete the Welcome to Medicare visit in order to eventually qualify for an Annual Wellness Visit.

Does the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Include Blood Work?

A routine annual laboratory panel is not automatically included as a required component of the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit.

Your healthcare provider may order laboratory testing based on your health history, medical conditions, symptoms, medications, preventive-screening eligibility, or clinical needs.

Coverage depends on why the test is being ordered and whether Medicare's requirements for that test are met.

This is different from assuming that an AWV automatically includes:

• CBC
• Comprehensive metabolic panel
• Cholesterol panel
• A1C
• Thyroid testing
• Vitamin testing
• Urinalysis

Those tests may be appropriate for some patients but not others.

IASIS patients who want to understand how laboratory testing fits into preventive care can also read our guide on what should actually happen during an annual physical.

For more detail about common yearly laboratory testing, see our guide to what blood tests adults may need each year. If your physician orders fasting labs, our article on whether you need to fast before an annual physical explains how to prepare.

Can You Discuss New Symptoms During a Medicare Wellness Visit?

You should always tell your healthcare provider about new or concerning symptoms.

However, the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is designed primarily around prevention and risk assessment.

If you need evaluation or treatment for a new symptom or existing medical condition during the same appointment, the provider may need to perform an additional medically necessary service.

That additional service can have separate billing and cost-sharing requirements.

For example, you may need additional evaluation for:

• Chest discomfort
• New shortness of breath
• Persistent fatigue
• Abdominal symptoms
• New dizziness
• Medication side effects
• Blood pressure concerns
• Abnormal glucose
• Joint pain
• A new skin concern
• Other new or worsening symptoms

Do not avoid discussing an important medical concern simply because you scheduled a wellness visit. Instead, ask the office how evaluation of that concern may affect the type of visit or your costs.

Can You Have an Annual Physical and a Medicare Wellness Visit in the Same Year?

Potentially, yes, because they are different services.

However, Medicare's coverage of the Annual Wellness Visit does not automatically mean Medicare will pay for a separate routine physical examination.

Some patients choose to receive additional preventive or comprehensive primary care beyond the services Medicare covers through the Annual Wellness Visit.

If you are considering both types of care, ask:

• What does my Medicare benefit cover?
• What will the physical include?
• Will I owe anything out of pocket?
• Are additional labs or tests being ordered?
• Are they covered preventive services or medically necessary diagnostic services?
• Are any services part of a separate membership arrangement?

Getting those answers before the visit can help prevent unexpected bills.

Which Visit Is Better: Annual Physical or Medicare Wellness Visit?

Neither visit is automatically “better.” They serve different purposes.

A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit may be particularly useful if you want to:

• Review preventive health risks
• Update your screening schedule
• Review medications
• Discuss fall prevention
• Review cognitive health
• Discuss vaccinations and preventive services
• Create a personalized prevention plan

A more comprehensive annual physical may be useful if you want:

• A broader physical examination
• More time to discuss current symptoms
• Review of laboratory trends
• Discussion of chronic medical conditions
• Medication management
• Individualized cardiovascular and metabolic risk review
• More detailed follow-up planning

Some patients may benefit from elements of both approaches over the course of their healthcare.

The right choice depends on your health needs, insurance coverage, current medical concerns, and the relationship you have with your physician.

What Should You Bring to a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?

Preparation can make the appointment more useful.

Consider bringing:

• A complete medication list
• Vitamins and supplements
• Names of specialists and other healthcare professionals involved in your care
• Recent hospital or urgent care information
• Relevant medical records
• Immunization records when available
• Family medical history updates
• Home blood pressure readings if you track them
• Information about falls or balance problems
• Questions about screenings or vaccines
• Any concerns about memory or daily functioning

CMS specifically encourages patients preparing for an AWV to bring medical records, family-health information, a full medication and supplement list, and a list of current healthcare providers.

What Should You Bring to an Annual Physical?

Many of the same items are useful for a traditional physical, but you may also want to prepare a more complete list of concerns.

Bring:

• Current medications and supplements
• Recent laboratory results
• Specialist reports
• Home blood pressure or blood sugar readings
• New symptoms
• Changes in sleep or energy
• Weight changes
• Questions about medications
• New family medical history
• A list of preventive screenings you believe may be due

It can also help to prepare questions before the visit. Our guide to questions to ask your primary care doctor can help you organize what you want to discuss.

Do Healthy Adults Still Need Regular Primary Care?

Preventive care is not only for people who already have a diagnosis.

Regular primary care can help keep important information organized and provide an opportunity to review:

• Blood pressure
• Weight changes
• Family history
• Medications
• Vaccinations
• Screening schedules
• Cholesterol and cardiovascular risk
• Blood sugar risk
• Sleep
• Stress
• Exercise
• Nutrition
• New symptoms

The ideal frequency of visits is not identical for every adult. Read our guide on how often adults should see a primary care doctor for a more detailed explanation.

Why Preventive Care Becomes Especially Important as You Get Older

As you move through your 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond, your preventive-care plan may change.

Age, medications, family history, previous laboratory results, and chronic-condition risk can all affect which health issues deserve attention.

That may include reviewing:

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol
• Blood sugar
• Cardiovascular risk
• Colon cancer screening
• Breast or cervical cancer screening when appropriate
• Prostate-health discussions when appropriate
• Bone health
• Vaccinations
• Cognitive health
• Medication safety

For adults entering this stage of life, our guide to preventive care after age 40 explains how health priorities can begin to change.

Annual Physicals at IASIS Boutique Health

At IASIS Boutique Health in Orland Park, Dr. Georgios Karanastasis provides adult primary care through a membership-based internal medicine practice focused on longer appointments, continuity, preventive care, and clearer follow-up.

An annual physical at IASIS is designed to consider your complete health picture rather than treating preventive care as a simple checklist.

Depending on your individual health needs, annual care may involve:

• Medical-history review
• Medication review
• Discussion of new symptoms
• Physical examination
• Annual comprehensive laboratory testing for IASIS members
• Cardiovascular-risk discussion
• Blood sugar and metabolic-risk review
• Preventive-screening review
• Chronic-condition follow-up
• A personalized care plan

Learn more about annual physical exams at IASIS Boutique Health in Orland Park.

You can also meet Dr. Georgios Karanastasis, a board-certified internal medicine physician and founder of IASIS Boutique Health.

Important: IASIS membership and Medicare or other insurance coverage are separate issues. Patients should confirm the coverage and cost of specific services with Medicare, their insurance plan, and the practice before receiving care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit a physical?

No. Medicare specifically states that its yearly Wellness Visit is not a routine physical examination. The AWV focuses on health risk assessment, preventive planning, routine measurements, medical history, medications, screening needs, and other preventive topics.

Does Medicare pay for an annual physical?

Original Medicare generally does not cover a routine physical examination as a standard annual physical benefit. Medicare does cover eligible preventive services such as the Annual Wellness Visit and the one-time Welcome to Medicare preventive visit. Coverage for additional evaluation, testing, or treatment depends on the service and Medicare rules.

How often does Medicare cover an Annual Wellness Visit?

For eligible beneficiaries, Medicare Part B covers the Annual Wellness Visit once every 12 months.

Does a Medicare Wellness Visit include blood tests?

A routine blood panel is not a required component of the AWV itself. Your healthcare provider may order appropriate testing based on your medical history, risk factors, symptoms, or preventive-screening eligibility. Coverage varies depending on the test and reason it is ordered.

What is the difference between the Welcome to Medicare visit and the Annual Wellness Visit?

The Welcome to Medicare visit is a one-time preventive visit available during the first 12 months of Medicare Part B enrollment. The Annual Wellness Visit is an ongoing preventive benefit that eligible beneficiaries can receive once every 12 months after the applicable eligibility period.

Can I talk about a medical problem during my Annual Wellness Visit?

Yes. You should tell your healthcare provider about medical concerns. However, evaluation or treatment of a separate problem may constitute an additional service and may have separate Medicare cost-sharing requirements.

Can I have a physical and a Medicare Wellness Visit?

They are different services, so some patients receive both forms of care. However, Medicare's coverage of the AWV does not mean Medicare will automatically cover a routine physical examination. Ask your provider and insurance plan about expected coverage and costs before scheduling.

Which appointment should I schedule?

If you are primarily trying to use your Medicare preventive benefit and update your prevention plan, ask about the Annual Wellness Visit. If you want a broader medical examination or need evaluation of current health concerns, tell the office what you need so they can help determine the appropriate appointment type.

Annual Physical Resources & Guides

Continue exploring the IASIS annual physical and preventive care cluster:

• What Is Included in an Annual Physical?
• Do You Need to Fast Before an Annual Physical?
• What Blood Tests Should I Get Every Year?
• Questions to Ask Your Primary Care Doctor
• How Often Should Adults See a Primary Care Doctor?
• Why Preventive Care Matters After 40

For local care, visit our Annual Physical Exam in Orland Park service page.

The Bottom Line

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit and a traditional annual physical are different appointments.

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit focuses primarily on preventive planning, health risks, medications, routine measurements, cognitive assessment, and creating or updating a personalized prevention schedule.

A traditional annual physical generally involves a broader review of your current health and an appropriate physician examination, with laboratory testing, chronic-condition review, or additional evaluation based on your individual needs.

Knowing the difference before you schedule can help you choose the right visit and understand which services Medicare may or may not cover.

If you want to learn more about what a comprehensive yearly examination may involve, read our complete annual physical checklist or explore annual physical exams in Orland Park at IASIS Boutique Health.

Medical and insurance disclaimer: This article provides general educational information and does not replace individualized medical, billing, or insurance advice. Medicare and Medicare Advantage coverage rules can vary based on the service, provider, plan, and circumstances. Confirm your benefits and expected costs with Medicare, your health plan, and your healthcare provider.