Has Anyone Done An Annual "Wellness " Visit

Yes I just had mine and had my lab work done, all is well👍 I have medication that I am required to refill yearly after visiting with my doctor for him to measure my levels, but I would go anyway as it gives me a peace of mind.
 

The search brought quite a few results, I was mainly looking for 2 threads- one where a member said he or she was asked questions to basically determine if his/her mind was still working, and and older thread where a member said his/her family member was brought into it.

Before I read those, I'd thought a 'wellness' was just a basic checkup, and a dr. might recommend a test or a lifestyle change he/she thought was important.. but these threads make it seem like there's much more to it, and not in a good way.
Any comments from members' experiences would be appreciated.
 
JaniceM said:
The search brought quite a few results, I was mainly looking for 2 threads- one where a member said he or she was asked questions to basically determine if his/her mind was still working, and and older thread where a member said his/her family member was brought into it.

Before I read those, I'd thought a 'wellness' was just a basic checkup, and a dr. might recommend a test or a lifestyle change he/she thought was important.. but these threads make it seem like there's much more to it, and not in a good way.
Any comments from members' experiences would be appreciated.
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My mother and father-in-law both suffered from dementia. There are tests that determine the level of people's cognitive losses. Administering them periodically is helpful to track the progression of dementia.

People who don't suffer from various types of dementia, Alzheimer's included, will find the tests easy.
They were asked questions like, what city are you in? Where are you right now? (Answer: a doctor's office, a medical building or something similar.) Do you know what floor you're on? What year is it? Who's president of the US right now? They were asked to remember three nouns (maybe king, rose and turkey) and asked to recall them about 5 minutes later. Also needed to make a couple of very simple drawings - a clock and a box.

You can look these tests up on the Internet. I was present when the tests were administered because I'd driven them to the doctor, not because I was "brought into it."

Both of the people who were tested had been showing signs of dementia. These tests aren't administered as a matter of course, like a blood test might be.

Hop this helps alleviate your concerns.
 
fmdog44 said:
Has Anyone Done An Annual "Wellness " Visit - I am told by my doctor there is a lot of paperwork.
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Yes, twice now. And it did not involve any paperwork beyond a regular doctor's visit.

Kind of an annual exam lite, not a big deal.

I think Medicare pays for mine, the doctor's office called me about it and to schedule. So I assume it's a money maker for them.
 
My new Medicare Advantage plan sent a nurse to my home for an annual wellness visit last month. Almost two hours of health questions, BP and weight check. Nothing of real value to me as I had just seen PC two weeks prior for regular exam with complete blood panel (all results in normal range) and script refills.

Home nurse was obviously checking for signs of dementia with sneaky memory tests, 'casual' conversation about current events (but carefully avoiding politics) and seemed surprised to learn that I was still actively researching genealogy, downloading library books and reading with Kindle, doing my own meals, laundry and monitoring my own meds. I guess I'm somewhat of an anomaly at 89.
 
I get one each year. It takes about a whole 5-10 minutes. No bloodwork or any other tests. Take the vitals and listen to the heart and lungs and ask a few questions. See you next year.
 
I get 2 checkups a year, one every 6 months, the wellness test comes with the first of year one both include blood work, test and I get a chest xray once a year (I used to smoke). I think the reason behind the wellness test is for prevention.
All this cost me nothing and I'm glad for the thoroughness and precaution.
 
I had my wellness checkup a couple of weeks ago. Just a regular check up and asking me if I had any concerns. She listened to my heart and checked my legs and feet due to the lymphedema. I asked her to check my blood sugar since diabetes runs in my family. So the nurse did that. No big deal really.
 
I had a "Welcome to Medicare" wellness physical exam which included an EKG, an abdominal ultrasound to check for aneurysms and blood work plus the extensive list of questions about my mental health, if I've had any falls in the past several months, and a few other things. I have a complex medical history so I don't mind going to the doctor, my specialists, the dentist or the opthalmologist.
 
JaniceM said:
It looks like everybody has had different experiences
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It sure does seem like we all do have different experiences. My 'welcome to medicare' did ask me the dementia test questions (repeat back three things a few minutes later), and included blood work, and sending me for a bone density scan and mammogram (though maybe the mammogram was part of normal preventative stuff).
 
HoneyNut said:
It sure does seem like we all do have different experiences. My 'welcome to medicare' did ask me the dementia test questions (repeat back three things a few minutes later), and included blood work, and sending me for a bone density scan and mammogram (though maybe the mammogram was part of normal preventative stuff).
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I don't have medicare yet, but in the last couple of years that I've had medicaid it said I was eligible for wellness visits (and not much else), so I was wondering what it was about.
 
I just had a kidney stone (no history of these), and when I tried to have the records sent to my PCP, her office called and told me that since I haven't been in for 2 years and haven't had an annual Medicare wellness exam, she can no longer be my PCP unless I schedule a wellness exam right away. I asked if the wellness exam is mandatory. She said No, but not doing the exam makes my doctor "look bad" to Medicare. I have done my best to stay out of hospitals and doctor's offices for the past couple of years, and I've remained healthy in spite of the pandemic. Can't believe my doctor would penalize me for doing that! Her nurse said if I'm not going to book an appointment, don't bother to have my records sent to them. Guess she doesn't make any money on a healthy patient who doesn't come in for the Medicare-paid exam. I decided she's not the right doctor for me.
 
StarSong said:
Ditto for me. It's relatively quick, the doc or nurse practitioner orders blood tests, and I see the results on line. If something is awry the doctor or blood work might pick it up before I notice symptoms. No biggie and it costs me nothing.
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But it does not include a physical? :unsure:
 
I have had four Medicare Wellness visits, at 66, 67, 68, 69.

Basically, at each one, doctor going over my medical history and
present health/medical. Then the memory quiz. All went well,
a bit drawn out though, took about 45 min. My vision was checked
and just some other common things. It does not include a physical,
that would be a seperate visit, but not for the Wellness check. Of
course basic vitals (blood pressure etc are taken, that it is mostly)
Vaccines and jabs are reviewed, necessary upcoming testing or
procedures are noted, all already on my patient chart and the
doctor office computer. Labs are scheduled if needed.
 
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Our annual no cost visits include no cost complete lab work to detect any change. A sit down with our primary care involves no paperwork since our info is on their secure computer file system. Easy & helps with peace of mind. The big plus, the lab work and visits are scheduled at our convenience.
 
The wellness visit is answering questions and blood test...these test are for your benefit, at our age any number of things can go wrong with our health, I for one want any unforeseen problems to be found early.
Every six months I get a report on all blood work on My Chart, I'm able to compare the data to past reports to know if there is improvement or not....this is valuable information for me. I just don't understand the attitude that this is an inconvenience.
I read somewhere that these Wellness visits save Medicare and Insurance companies a lot of money by detecting problems early.
 
Had Medicare Wellness visit with PC last week. Same routine questions checking how connected I am to real world but added 2 new ones ( checking progress of dementia/memory). I was told to begin at 20 and count backward to 1 and then say months backward from December to January. I had no problem doing either but thought, If she asks me to do the the alphabet backward, I'm in trouble.
 
My sister was asked to count in progression from the number 10 forward skipping
7 numbers each time up until 100.

So, 10 -17-24-31 think that is correct? anyway she could not do it without counting
on her fingers and nurse said try to do it in your head, not on fingers lol
 

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