If you're new to Medicare, the Welcome to Medicare visit is a one-time onboarding session in your first 12 months of Part B enrollment. The Annual Wellness Visit is an annual update to your preventive care plan. Both catch health risks early and keep screenings on schedule at no cost when billed correctly.
Because preventive care shouldn't require detective work.
At a Glance • IPPE 101 • AWV 101 • Key Differences • Why Both Matter • What's Covered • How to Book • Costs • Planning Checklist • FAQs
📋 What they are: The Welcome to Medicare Visit (IPPE) = one-time Medicare onboarding during your first 12 months of Part B. The Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) = a yearly prevention check-in to update your plan.
📋 Why they matter: Catch risks early, build your Personalized Prevention Plan, and keep screenings on schedule at no cost when done right.
📋 What to do: Book your IPPE within 12 months of Part B start. After that, schedule AWV yearly. Bring meds, providers, and health goals.
IPPE (Initial Preventive Physical Examination): Your one-time Medicare onboarding visit within the first 12 months of Part B coverage.
Despite the name, this isn't a head-to-toe physical. Think of it as an orientation where your doctor baselines your health and maps out a prevention plan. Miss the 12-month window? You skip straight to Annual Wellness Visits.
✔️ Medical and social history review
✔️ Fall risk and depression screening
✔️ Height, weight, blood pressure, simple vision check
✔️ Medication and family health history review
✔️ Advance directive conversation
✔️ Your Personalized Prevention Plan with screening/vaccine checklist
Personalized Prevention Plan: A dated checklist of exactly which preventive services you need and when, such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and vaccines.
❌ Treatment for existing problems (that triggers a separate bill)
❌ Comprehensive lab work
❌ Dental or vision exams
❌ Diagnosis of new symptoms
📌 Side note: If you mention a health problem during your IPPE, expect a separate charge. Keep wellness visits separate from problem-focused care to avoid surprise bills. Learn more about what's included in the Welcome to Medicare visit.
(AWV) Annual Wellness Visit: A yearly planning session to create or update your prevention plan, not a physical exam.
You're eligible after having Part B for 12 months, then once every year thereafter.
✔️ Health Risk Assessment (HRA) questionnaire about lifestyle and daily activities
✔️ Routine measurements (height, weight, blood pressure)
✔️ Cognitive screening for dementia signs
✔️ Depression and fall-risk assessments
✔️ Safety-at-home and daily-task evaluation
✔️ List of current providers and medical equipment
✔️ Updated Personalized Prevention Plan with health advice and referrals for weight loss, physical activity, smoking cessation, or nutrition programs
✔️ Advance care planning discussion (if you want it)
HRA (Health Risk Assessment): A questionnaire about your daily life, habits, and potential risk factors helps your doctor spot issues early.
Subsequent AWVs refresh your plan based on what's changed, checking your progress on preventive services and adjusting for new risk factors.
❌ Physical examination beyond basic measurements
❌ Lab work (ordered separately if needed)
❌ Diagnosis or treatment of new conditions
❌ Medication adjustments for chronic illnesses
Need to address specific health concerns? Schedule a separate appointment. Your provider can often do both on the same day, but they are billed separately. See what doctors wish patients knew about Medicare wellness visits.
| Factor | Welcome to Medicare (IPPE) | Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) |
| Frequency | One-time only | Once every 12 months |
| Focus | Onboarding and baselines | Updates and prevention maintenance |
| Timing | First 12 months of Part B | After 12+ months of Part B |
| What happens if you miss it | Skip to AWVs after Year 1 | Schedule any time after 12 months from last AWV |
Both visits are typically no cost when you see a provider who accepts assignment (Original Medicare) or is in-network (Medicare Advantage plans). Medicare.gov confirms that yearly wellness visits have no Part B deductible, coinsurance, or copayment when billed correctly.
💪 Pro tip: Ask your provider to keep wellness visits separate from problem-focused care. Say: "I'd like to schedule my Annual Wellness Visit separately from any sick visits."
Step 1: Use the exact name.
When scheduling, use phrases like "Welcome to Medicare visit" or "Annual Wellness Visit," rather than "physical exam" or "checkup." The name matters for billing.
📞 Say this when you call: "I'd like to schedule my Welcome to Medicare visit / Annual Wellness Visit, not a physical exam."
Step 2: Confirm your network.
Medicare Advantage plans often require in-network providers for no-cost coverage. Check your plan's directory first. Original Medicare works with any provider who accepts assignment.
Step 3: Come prepared with:
✅ Complete medication list (prescriptions, OTC drugs, vitamins, supplements with dosages)
✅ Provider list (all your doctors, specialists, and recent hospital visits)
✅ Family health history (hereditary conditions)
✅ Health goals (staying active, traveling, managing weight, improving sleep)
✅ Advance directives (if you have them) or readiness to discuss creating them
✅ Immunization records (for IPPE)
Step 4: Leave with your plan.
Make sure you get your written Personalized Prevention Plan with due dates, referrals for recommended services, and updated lists. Set phone and calendar reminders immediately for upcoming screenings.
📅 Add reminders at 90, 60, and 30 days before your next AWV or recommended screening.
Original Medicare: IPPE and AWV are no-cost when you see a provider who accepts assignment. Extra services during the visit may have a copay or coinsurance.
Medicare Advantage: Most MA plans cover IPPE/AWV at no cost in-network. Confirm copays with your plan.
⏰ Timing rules:
Is the Annual Wellness Visit a physical?
No. AWV and IPPE are planning and screening visits, not full physicals.
What's included in the Welcome to Medicare visit?
Medical history, vitals, risk screenings (like falls and depression), medication review, and your first Personalized Prevention Plan. See the full list of what's covered.
How often can I get an AWV?
Once every 12 months after you've had Part B for at least 12 months.
Does Medicare cover advance care planning in these visits?
Basic discussion is included. Detailed planning conversations may be billed separately, so ask ahead about coverage.
What should I bring to an AWV?
Complete medication list (with dosages), provider list, family health history, health goals, and any advance directives.
Is there a copay for the IPPE or AWV?
Typically no-cost when you see a provider who accepts assignment (Original Medicare) or is in-network (Medicare Advantage plans). Extra services may have a copay or coinsurance.
Can I combine an AWV with a problem visit?
Yes, but you'll be billed for both: A no-cost wellness visit and a separate copay for the problem-focused visit.
Understanding the difference between your Welcome to Medicare visit and your Annual Wellness Visit is more than just decoding Medicare jargon—it's the key to using your benefits to stay health, proactive, and informed. The IPPE gives you a baseline; the AWV keeps you on track year after year. Together, they create your personalized prevention roadmap—one that helps you catch risks early, avoid unnecessary costs, and feel confident in your care.
So don't just check these visits off your list—use them. Ask question. Update your plan. And take full advantage of the care you've already earned.
Because prevention only works if you follow through.
Let MyALEXHealth™ make it simple. From our Guide to Medicare-Covered Preventive Services to our EOB Guide (so you don't get charged for visits that should be free) and our Provider Directory Guide (to confirm your doctors are in-network), ALEX® gives you everything you need to take advantage of your benefits at no cost.
We'll help you track your screenings, understand your coverage, and keep your prevention plan on schedule—without the jargon or the guesswork.
See how effortless healthy can be.
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