The “Welcome to Medicare” visit is known as the one-time appointment a Medicare beneficiary can decide to receive when they first sign up for Medicare. And it is covered within the first 12 months that they have Part B. The aim of the Welcome to Medicare Visit is to promote general health and help prevent disease. This is an excellent way to talk with your doctor about your health and what you need to do to stay healthy. Here is what you need to expect at the visit.
Things to Expect at a Welcome to Medicare Visit
During the “Welcome to Medicare” visit, you can expect:
- A thorough review of health, counseling, and education about the preventive services Medicare covers and referrals to other care if you need it.
- A review of social and medical history with a focus on risk factors for disease.
- Creating a schedule for Medicare’s preventive and screening services you qualify for over a certain period.
- A review of your level of safety.
- A review of your potential for depression or other mood disorders.
- An exam that includes your weight, height, measurement of body mass index, blood pressure, and other factors that are deemed appropriate.
- Vision assessment.
- EKG with analysis and report.
Remember that the Welcome to Medicare visit is optional. You don’t need to go for the visit to later qualify for the annual wellness visits. However, Medicare won’t cover the wellness visit for your first twelve months of signing up for Medicare Part B.
What to Bring for Welcome to Medicare Visit
The better prepared you are for a visit, the easier it will be to get the right recommendations from your doctor. So, when going for the Welcome to Medicare visit, take along the following:
- Family health history: Understand the health situations of your family, and with this, your doctor can help you avoid certain diseases.
- Medical and immunization records: If you have been at a clinic as a patient long enough, the clinic should have all of your medical and immunization records. But in the case that you are switching health clinics, you will probably need to get these records transferred to your new doctor.
- A list of your drugs: Create a list of all the medications and supplements you are currently using and take them along for your Welcome to Medicare visit.
Schedule an appointment with your doctor today or contact Turning 65 Solutions to learn more about the Welcome to Medicare visit.