Your Guide to Medicare Wellness Visits and Preventive Care
avolzke • November 3, 2025
Your Guide to Medicare Wellness Visits and Preventive Care
When it comes to your health, most people think of visiting the doctor when something feels off. But regular checkups are just as important when you’re feeling well. Routine wellness visits allow you and your healthcare provider to stay ahead of potential health issues and maintain a strong foundation for long-term wellness.
These visits are also an opportunity to ask questions about your medications, supplements, nutrition, or exercise habits, ensuring your care plan fits your current needs and goals.
“Welcome to Medicare” Preventive Visit
If you’ve recently enrolled in Medicare Part B, you’re eligible for a one-time “Welcome to Medicare” Preventive Visit within your first 12 months of coverage. This visit helps you get started with Medicare’s preventive services and includes:
- Medical and Family History Review: Discuss your personal and family health history to identify potential risks.
- Baseline Measurements: Record vital statistics such as height, weight, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI).
- Preventive Services Counseling: Receive guidance on screenings, vaccinations, and other preventive measures that are right for you.
- Advance Care Planning: Option to discuss your future care preferences and planning.
Annual Wellness Visit
After your first year with Medicare Part B, you can schedule an Annual Wellness Visit every 12 months. This visit focuses on prevention and planning rather than diagnosing or treating specific health problems. It typically includes:
- Health Risk Assessment: A questionnaire to evaluate your overall health and identify potential risk factors.
- Routine Measurements: Updates on vital statistics like height, weight, and blood pressure.
- Updated Health History: Review any changes in your medical or family history.
- Screening Schedule: A checklist of preventive services and screenings recommended for your age and health status.
- Personalized Health Advice: Tailored recommendations for healthy living and disease prevention.
- Cognitive Assessment: Evaluation for signs of memory or cognitive changes.
- Advance Care Planning: Optional discussion about your preferences for future healthcare decisions.
Wellness Visit vs. Physical Exam
One common misconception is that a Medicare Wellness Visit is the same as an annual physical exam but there are key differences:
- Medicare Wellness Visit: Focuses on preventive care, personalized health planning, and identifying potential health risks.
- Physical Exam: A more hands-on evaluation that may include diagnostic tests, lab work, and treatment for specific conditions.
Medicare covers Annual Wellness Visits, but not routine physical exams. If you need a traditional physical exam, you may need to pay out-of-pocket or check if your supplemental insurance covers the cost.
Taking advantage of your Medicare Wellness Visits helps you stay proactive about your health and catch potential issues early, keeping you healthy and informed year after year.
Community Health Center of Central Wyoming (CHCCW) would like to inform our patients that our Sliding Fee Discount Program (SFDP) will be changing effective January 1, 2026. These changes were encouraged by our patient surveys and regional sliding fee discount programs, and we are happy to announce new 2026 nominal fees for medical, behavioral health, dental, labs, vaccines, X-rays, procedures, and supplies. Provider Visit Fees Slide A: $10 Slide B: $20 Slide C: $30 Slide D: $40 Above 200% FPG → Standard Charges Ancillary Service Flat Rates per category (Labs, X-Rays, Vaccines, Procedures, Injections, Supplies/DME) Slide A: $5 Slide B: $10 Slide C: $15 Slide D: $20 Above 200% FPG → Standard Charges
Medicare is health coverage for adults 65+, but you may qualify earlier if you have a disability, ESRD, or ALS. Some people are enrolled automatically, while others need to sign up, it all depends on when you begin receiving Social Security benefits. You can have an annual Wellness visit to update a personalized plan for preventing disease or disability; this visit focuses on prevention, not a physical exam. Medicare Part B covers the cost for your annual visit.
On National Rural Health Day, we celebrate the strength, compassion, and resilience that define our rural communities. Rural healthcare is more than medicine, it’s about neighbors caring for neighbors, families looking out for one another, and a shared commitment to keeping our communities healthy and thriving. At Community Health Centers of Central Wyoming, we’re proud to serve the people of Riverton, Lander, and Dubois , where our rural clinics provide care close to home for families, workers, and individuals of all ages. From routine checkups to preventive screenings and beyond, our teams are dedicated to our patients because distance should never stand in the way of good health. Our providers, nurses, and staff in these clinics embody the true spirit of rural healthcare; going the extra mile to make sure every patient receives compassionate, quality care. On this Rural Health Day, we thank them and we are proud of the communities they serve. Together, we’re building a healthier future for rural Wyoming!
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Wyoming/Casper Imaging Outpatient Radiology is making breast health a little easier, and a lot more enjoyable. Join them for a Brunch & Breast Health Screening Event on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Casper Medical Imaging, 419 S Washington St, Ste. 101, Casper, WY. This event is designed to encourage women in our community to stay on top of their breast health in a warm and supportive setting. Women ages 40 and older can receive a screening mammogram, while also enjoying a light brunch, refreshments, and giveaways. To ensure access for everyone, the Wyoming Cancer Program will be on-site to help uninsured and underinsured patients with mammogram costs. If you’re due for a mammogram, this is the perfect chance to make your health a priority. Early detection saves lives, don’t miss this opportunity to take care of yourself in a welcoming and encouraging environment. For any additional questions about this event, please contact Wyoming/Casper Imaging Outpatient Radiology at 307-265-1620
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From August 3–9, 2025, health centers across the United States will observe National Health Center Week (NHCW), highlighting the essential role they play in providing accessible and affordable healthcare to millions of Americans. Since their founding in the 1960s, Community Health Centers have led efforts to address not only medical needs but also the broader social and economic factors that influence health—such as housing, employment, education, and access to nutritious food. These social determinants of health remain central to the mission of health centers nationwide. The Community Health Center of Central Wyoming (CHCCW) has been serving the region as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) since 1999. With clinics in Casper, Dubois, Lander, and Riverton, CHCCW is dedicated to improving the well-being of Central Wyoming communities through comprehensive, patient-centered care. In 2024, CHCCW served 17,947 patients across its clinics. As of mid-2025, that number has already reached 11,040, reflecting the growing demand for reliable, community-based healthcare in the region. As National Health Center Week approaches, CHCCW reaffirms its mission to provide high-quality, affordable care with compassion, dignity, and respect—regardless of a patient’s income level or insurance status. Community members are encouraged to learn more about CHCCW’s impact and services by visiting their local clinic or exploring available resources online.
