The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit: The Free Check-In Every Senior Deserves

June 17, 2025 [Gillette, WY] – If you’re a Medicare recipient, there’s a zero-cost benefit you may not be using but should. The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is a once-a-year preventive health visit available to anyone enrolled in Medicare. This free visit is designed to help you stay ahead of health risks and make informed, confident decisions about your future. Yet many seniors have never heard of it.

At Hoskinson Health & Wellness Clinic, we’re working to change that.

What Is the Annual Wellness Visit (AWV)?

The AWV is not a physical exam. Instead, it’s a comprehensive preventive health visit focused on prevention and proactive care. Your overall health will be taken into consideration, to assess risks, and create a plan to help you thrive daily.

This visit doesn’t replace your regular checkups or physicals but complements them. During your AWV, our dedicated nurse practitioner, Julie Centner, will review your health history, screen for potential risks, update your medications and vaccinations, and work with you to develop a custom wellness plan tailored to your needs.

Who’s Eligible?

To qualify for the Annual Wellness Visit, you must:

• Be enrolled in Medicare Part B for at least 12 months.
• Not have had an AWV within the past 12 months.
• Schedule your visit with a participating provider like the HHWC team.

Note: This visit is separate from your "Welcome to Medicare" or your routine physical.

Why It Matters; Especially for Seniors

As we age, preventive care becomes more vital than ever.

Even small health changes can have big impacts on our independence, mobility, and quality of life. Catching those changes early, be it in memory shifts, weight loss, or an increased risk of falling, can lead to more good years ahead.

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit gives you and your provider the dedicated time to complete a health risk assessment to flag potential concerns, screen for cognitive changes, check wellness indicators like vision, BMI, and blood pressure and refine your prevention plan. This is also a great opportunity to bring up anything you’ve been wondering about but didn’t know how to ask. It’s like having a prevention roadmap drawn just for you.

What Happens During the Visit?

Whether it’s your first Annual Wellness Visit or a yearly follow-up, our nurse practitioner will take time to walk through key aspects of your health and well-being.

During your visit, you can expect to:

• Review your medical and family history.
• Assess your current medications, including prescriptions, supplements, and over-the-counter products.
• Evaluate your lifestyle and social supports, including diet, exercise, and home environment.
• Discuss changes in mental health, memory, or daily function.
• Review your preventive screenings, including mammograms, colonoscopies, and vaccinations
• Develop or update a personalized prevention plan based on your individual needs, goals, and risk factors

This visit is designed to give your care team a full understanding of your current health and provide you with a clear path forward.

After Your Visit: What You’ll Walk Away With

• A preventive care plan.
• Referrals or appointments for needed screenings or services.
• Notes on lifestyle recommendations (like diet, exercise, or medication reminders)
• A better understanding of what’s going well and what needs watching

We also help schedule your next AWV so your care stays consistent and proactive.

And the best part? It’s all covered by Medicare. No co-pays. No deductibles. No out-of-pocket costs.

If you or a loved one hasn’t had your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit this year, now’s the time. Call Hoskinson Health & Wellness Clinic at (307) 387-9850 to schedule your check-in today.

And because the visit is free, there’s no reason to wait.