Diagnosis and assessment

What is Medicare yearly wellness visit?

The Medicare yearly wellness visit is a check-in covered once every 12 months that includes a cognitive assessment to look for signs of dementia.

It is a visit to develop or update a personal prevention plan. As part of it, the provider performs a cognitive assessment, looking for signs such as trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating, managing money or making decisions.

The person pays nothing if the provider accepts Medicare assignment, though other costs may apply. If the assessment raises concern, a separate, fuller cognitive assessment and care plan visit is the usual next step.

Why it matters

It is a free, routine chance to raise memory concerns without having to book an appointment about them.

Sources

Where to check this, and where to read more. All external and all authoritative.

Medicare yearly wellness visit where you live

The local guide on this, for each city we cover.

Related terms

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