annual wellness visit what is included

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What Does a Medicare Wellness Visit Include?

Routine medical care is important when you’re sick or suffering from an ailment, but what about when you’re feeling fine? The truth is, scheduling an annual doctor’s visit to assess your health, often referred to as a wellness visit, is just as important to do when you’re feeling fine as it is when you’re feeling under the weather. These visits provide your physician the chance to discuss any healthcare concerns you may have, and they also give you the opportunity to ask questions about any medications or supplements you’re taking or about changes to your diet or exercise routine.

The Difference Between a Physical and a Wellness Visit

For many people, the terms “physical” and wellness visit” are used interchangeably, but they are actually quite different. During a physical, your doctor carries out a physical exam of your major systems, takes measurements, documents any changes and reviews concerns. During a wellness visit, there is typically no examination that takes place other than a general inspection of the body. A wellness visit is more like checking in with your doctor while a physical is more like an in-depth examination to assess body systems and functions. During a wellness visit, you may bring up a medical concern which prompts a physical exam, and during a physical, you may discuss wellness concerns, but the two are billed as separate types of visits.

Fortunately for Medicare recipients, an annual wellness visit is included with Part B coverage. During a wellness visit under Medicare, patients will have the chance to discuss any changes to existing conditions that have previously been documented, and the physician will review medical history to ensure that the patient is still in need of any prescribed medications. A doctor may also provide the patient with a preventive health plan designed to encourage healthy lifestyle choices. This plan may detail dietary changes or weight loss exercises, smoking or alcohol cessation information, a list of support groups or therapeutic care providers and more.

While wellness visits usually do not include any type of treatment in the doctor’s office unless an emergency occurs, patients are often directed to make a follow-up appointment for further screening if the wellness visit brings to light concerns that need to be addressed in detail. Keep in mind that this follow-up visit will not be covered as a wellness visit under Medicare and will be billed as a regular outpatient visit.

Additionally, a cognitive assessment is typically performed during the wellness visit, but this is usually done simply by conversing in the office. Finally, patients will fill out a wellness questionnaire while waiting to see the doctor, and the answers will be assessed to ensure that the doctor is able to address any symptoms that are deemed problematic that may not have been expressed directly by the patient.

Medicare Coverage Beyond Wellness Visits

If further medical treatment is required subsequent to a wellness visit, the good news is that Medicare provides a range of coverage options in the forms of inpatient, outpatient and prescription drug benefits. Medicare Part A covers things like inpatient hospitalization and skilled nursing care, and Medicare Part B provides coverage for outpatient care when it comes to doctor’s visits and treatments at clinics or testing at a lab. Medicare Part D is the prescription drug benefit and covers most medications that can be purchased at a retail pharmacy to be administered at home.

If you’re unsure as to your benefits or you’re considering Medicare in the future and would like to know more about your options, contact your current plan and/or research your options to find the Medicare coverage that will meet your needs.

Related articles:

Retiring under the age of 65? Understanding Your Medicare Benefits (Opens in a new browser tab)

Do Medicare Advantage Plans Cover Wellness Exams? (Opens in a new browser tab)

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What Happens During a Wellness Visit?

Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Jose Luis Pelaez / Getty Images

Importance of a Wellness Visit

• What to Expect
• How to Prepare

A wellness visit is a health check-up that is typically conducted on an annual basis. It involves visiting your healthcare provider to check your vitals, screen for health conditions , and develop a healthcare plan for your needs.

The aim of a wellness visit is to promote health and prevent disease and disability.

This article explains why annual wellness visits are important, what you can expect during the process, and how to prepare for it.

These are some reasons why wellness visits are important.

Prevent Diseases

Most healthcare visits are categorized under diagnostic care; when you have a health problem, you visit a healthcare provider who assesses your symptoms, diagnoses your condition, and prescribes a treatment plan.

A wellness visit on the other hand is a preventative healthcare measure. The aim of preventative healthcare is to help you maintain good health and prevent health problems before they develop. The goal is to help you live a longer, healthier life.

Wellness visits assess your lifestyle, evaluate health risks, and screen for health conditions, in order to prevent health problems or catch them in the early stages. Instead of waiting to see a healthcare provider once you have a health problem, the idea is to be proactive about your health and work with your healthcare provider to prevent health problems.

People tend to think that it’s fine to skip their annual wellness visit if they’re feeling healthy. However, a 2021 study notes that wellness visits can play a role in catching chronic health conditions early, as well as helping people control for risk factors that could cause them to develop health issues down the line.

Reduce Medical Costs

Wellness visits can help prevent disease and disability, which in turn can help reduce medical costs. According to a 2016 study, a focus on preventive healthcare can significantly reduce medical costs and improve the quality of healthcare services.

What to Expect During a Wellness Visit

A wellness visit may be performed by a healthcare provider such as a doctor, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, physician assistant, or other qualified health professional.

These are some of the steps a wellness visit may involve:

• Family history: Your healthcare provider may ask you detailed questions about your family’s medical history, to determine whether you are at an increased risk for certain health conditions that may be passed on genetically .
• Medical history: You may also be asked questions about your personal medical history. It can include information about any current or previous diseases, allergies, illnesses, surgeries, accidents, medications, vaccinations, and hospitalizations, as well as the results of any medical tests and examinations.
• Measurements: Your healthcare provider may measure your height, weight, heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital signs. Doing this regularly can help you establish a baseline as well as track any changes in your health.
• Cognitive assessment: Your healthcare provider may assess your ability to think, remember, learn, and concentrate, in order to screen for conditions such as Alzhemer’s disease and dementia.
• Mental health assessment: Your healthcare provider may also assess your mental health and state of mind, to help screen for conditions such as depression and other mood disorders.
• Physical assessment: Your healthcare provider may perform a physical examination to check your reflexes. They may also perform a neurological exam, a head and neck exam, an abdominal exam, or a lung exam.
• Functional assessment: Your healthcare provider may assess your hearing, your vision, your ability to perform day-to-day tasks, your risk of falling, and the safety of your home environment.
• Lifestyle factors: Your healthcare provider may ask you questions about your nutrition, fitness, daily habits, work, stress levels, and consumption of substances such as tobacco, nicotine, alcohol, and drugs.
• Health risk assessment: Based on this information, your healthcare provider will evaluate your health, and determine whether you are at an increased risk for any health conditions.
• Health advice: Your healthcare provider may advise you on steps you can take to improve your health, control risk factors, and prevent disease and disability. This may include nutrition counseling, an exercise plan, flu shot and vaccination recommendations, and fall prevention strategies, among other things.
• Screenings: Your healthcare provider may recommend that you get screened for certain health conditions such as depression , cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, or liver conditions. This may involve blood work, imaging scans, or other screening tests. 
• Medication review: Your healthcare provider may review your medication and adjust it, if required. This can include prescription medication, over-the-counter medication, vitamins, supplements, and herbal or traditional medication.
• Referrals and resources: If required, your healthcare provider will provide a referral to other healthcare specialists. They can also provide other resources that may be helpful, such as counseling services or support groups , for instance.
• Medical providers: Your healthcare provider will work with you to create or update a list of your current medical providers and equipment suppliers. This list can be helpful in case of an emergency.
• Healthcare plan: Your healthcare provider will work with you to create a healthcare plan that is tailored to your needs. The plan will serve as a checklist that will list any screenings or preventive measures you need to take over the next five to 10 years.

The screenings, assessments, and healthcare plan can vary depending on factors such as your age, gender, lifestyle, and risk factors.

How to Prepare for a Wellness Visit

These are some steps that can help you prepare for a wellness visit:

• Fill out any required questionnaires: Your healthcare provider may ask you to fill out a questionnaire before your visit. The questionnaire may include some of the factors listed above. Make sure you do it before your visit, so that you can make the most of your time with your healthcare provider.
• Carry your medications: If possible, try to carry your medications with you to show them to your healthcare provider.
• Take your medical documents along: It can be helpful to carry your prescriptions, immunization records, as well as the results of any medical tests or screenings you have had, to help give your healthcare provider a more accurate picture of your health status.
• Ask someone to go with you: You may want to take a trusted friend or family member along with you for the wellness visit. They can assist you if required, take notes for you, ask questions, and help you remember your healthcare provider’s instructions.
• Note down questions and concerns: A wellness visit is a good opportunity to ask your healthcare provider any questions you have about your health and tell them about any health problems or concerns you have. Making a list and carrying it with you to the visit can help ensure that you don’t miss anything.
• Check your insurance plan: Most insurance plans cover wellness visits; however, what is covered as part of the wellness visit can vary depending on the plan. It can be helpful to know what preventative services and wellness visits your plan offers. It’s important to check that your healthcare provider takes your insurance and to inform them that you’ll be coming for a wellness visit when you schedule your appointment.

A Word From Verywell

A wellness visit can help you evaluate your health status, understand your risk for specific health conditions, and give you the information and resources you need to improve your health.

After you go for a wellness visit, it’s important that you start implementing your healthcare provider’s advice, take any follow-up appointments necessary, and take steps to improve your health.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Get your wellness visit every year .

University Hospitals. What you need to know about wellness visits .

Liss DT, Uchida T, Wilkes CL, Radakrishnan A, Linder JA. General health checks in adult primary care: a review . JAMA . 2021;325(22):2294-2306. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.6524

Musich S, Wang S, Hawkins K, Klemes A. The impact of personalized preventive care on health care quality, utilization, and expenditures . Popul Health Manag . 2016;19(6):389-397. doi:10.1089/pop.2015.0171

Alzheimer’s Association. Annual wellness visit .

University of Michigan Health. Your yearly wellness visit .

By Sanjana Gupta Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

Yearly "Wellness" visits

If you’ve had Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) for longer than 12 months, you can get a yearly “Wellness” visit to develop or update your personalized plan to help prevent disease or disability, based on your current health and risk factors. The yearly “Wellness” visit isn’t a physical exam.

Your first yearly “Wellness” visit can’t take place within 12 months of your Part B enrollment or your “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit. However, you don’t need to have had a “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit to qualify for a yearly “Wellness” visit.

Your costs in Original Medicare

You pay nothing for this visit if your doctor or other health care provider accepts assignment .

The Part B deductible  doesn’t apply. 

However, you may have to pay coinsurance , and the Part B deductible may apply if your doctor or other health care provider performs additional tests or services during the same visit that Medicare doesn't cover under this preventive benefit.

If Medicare doesn't cover the additional tests or services (like a routine physical exam), you may have to pay the full amount.

Your doctor or other health care provider will ask you to fill out a questionnaire, called a “Health Risk Assessment,” as part of this visit. Answering these questions can help you and your doctor develop a personalized prevention plan to help you stay healthy and get the most out of your visit. Your visit may include:

• Routine measurements (like height, weight, and blood pressure).
• A review of your medical and family history.
• A review of your current prescriptions.
• Personalized health advice.
• Advance care planning .

Your doctor or other health care provider will also perform a cognitive assessment to look for signs of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Signs of cognitive impairment include trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating, managing finances, and making decisions about your everyday life. If your doctor or other health care provider thinks you may have cognitive impairment, Medicare covers a separate visit to do a more thorough review of your cognitive function and check for conditions like dementia, depression, anxiety, or delirium and design a care plan.

If you have a current prescription for opioids, your doctor or other health care provider will review your potential risk factors for opioid use disorder, evaluate your severity of pain and current treatment plan, provide information on non-opioid treatment options, and may refer you to a specialist, if appropriate. Your doctor or other health care provider will also review your potential risk factors for substance use disorder, like alcohol and tobacco use , and refer you for treatment, if needed. 

Related resources

• Preventive visits
• Social determinants of health risk assessment

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Common questions about Medicare annual wellness visits

If you are a Medicare recipient, you can take advantage of annual wellness visits. These visits are a preventive health benefit available after having Medicare Part B coverage for at least one year. All Medicare Advantage Plans are required to offer annual wellness visits for their members. A nurse or nurse practitioner reviews your health status and helps you plan for health and wellness needs.

In most cases, the annual wellness visit will be followed by a separate medical visit  with your primary care professional to close any health care gaps and address any problems identified during the visit.

Here are answers to common questions about annual wellness visits.

Why are annual wellness visits important.

The annual wellness visit allows you to review your health history and identify any current or potential health risks with a health care professional. The visit enables the nurse to focus on prevention and wellness while making sure you are current on recommended immunizations and health screenings like colonoscopies or mammograms. It also allows your primary care professional more time to focus on your medical concerns and needs at a separate physical exam.

Do I need to be 65 or older to have an annual wellness visit?

You do not need to be 65 or older to qualify for an annual wellness visit as long as you've been on Medicare Part B for at least one year.

How is an annual wellness visit scheduled?

If you are due for an annual wellness visit, you may be prompted to self-schedule the visit in the patient portal . You also may call your care team and ask to be scheduled.

If your visit is with a nurse or nurse practitioner, it's recommended to schedule this visit before the visit with your primary care professional. This allows your primary care professional the chance to address any concerns mentioned during your annual wellness visit.

How can I prepare for my annual wellness visit?

You may be asked to complete some questionnaires before arriving for your appointment, which will be sent to your patient portal account. If you cannot access the questionnaires before the appointment, plan to arrive at your appointment early to complete them.

It's helpful to come prepared to your visit with this information:

• All medications, vitamins and supplements you take, including how much and how often you take them
• Additional medical records, including immunization records
• Dates of your most recent preventive services, like a colonoscopy or mammogram, if completed by another health care facility
• Family health history, with as much detail as possible
• List of medical providers and suppliers who provide you care, equipment or services

What can you expect during an annual wellness visit?

During the visit, you'll meet with a nurse or nurse practitioner to:.

• Evaluate your fall risk
• Measure your height, weight and blood pressure
• Offer referrals to other health education or preventive services
• Provide information related to voluntary advance care planning
• Screen for cognitive impairments like dementia
• Screen for depression
• Update your medical and family history

What is the cost of an annual wellness visit?

Medicare offers the visit at no cost for people who have Medicare Part B coverage for at least one year before the visit. If you are referred for other tests or services, they will be billed to your insurance. If you have a separate visit with your primary care professional following your annual wellness visit, you or your insurance carrier will be responsible for the cost of that visit.

Robert Stroebel, M.D. , is a Community Internal Medicine, Geriatric and Palliative Care physician at Mayo Clinic Primary Care in Rochester and Kasson, Minnesota.

Related Posts

Medicare Wellness Visits Back to MLN Print November 2023 Updates

What’s Changed?

• Added information about monthly chronic pain management and treatment services
• Added information about checking for cognitive impairment during annual wellness visits
• Added information about Social Determinants of Health Risk Assessments as an optional element of annual wellness visits

Quick Start

The Annual Wellness Visits video helps you understand these exams, as well as their purpose and claim submission requirements.

Medicare Physical Exam Coverage

Initial Preventive Physical Exam (IPPE)

Review of medical and social health history and preventive services education.

✔ New Medicare patients within 12 months of starting Part B coverage

✔ Patients pay nothing (if provider accepts assignment)

Annual Wellness Visit (AWV)

Visit to develop or update a personalized prevention plan and perform a health risk assessment.

✔ Covered once every 12 months

Routine Physical Exam

Exam performed without relationship to treatment or diagnosis of a specific illness, symptom, complaint, or injury.

✘ Medicare doesn’t cover a routine physical

✘ Patients pay 100% out-of-pocket

Together we can advance health equity and help eliminate health disparities for all minority and underserved groups. Find resources and more from the CMS Office of Minority Health :

• Health Equity Technical Assistance Program
• Disparities Impact Statement

Communication Avoids Confusion

As a health care provider, you may recommend that patients get services more often than we cover or that we don’t cover. If this happens, help patients understand they may have to pay some or all costs. Communication is key to ensuring patients understand why you’re recommending certain services and whether we cover them.

Initial Preventive Physical Exam

The initial preventive physical exam (IPPE), also known as the “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit, promotes good health through disease prevention and detection. We pay for 1 IPPE per lifetime if it’s provided within the first 12 months after the patient’s Part B coverage starts.

1. Review the patient’s medical and social history

At a minimum, collect this information:

• Past medical and surgical history (illnesses, hospital stays, operations, allergies, injuries, and treatments)
• Current medications, supplements, and other substances the person may be using
• Family history (review the patient’s family and medical events, including hereditary conditions that place them at increased risk)
• Physical activities
• Social activities and engagement
• Alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use history

Learn information about Medicare’s substance use disorder (SUD) services coverage .

2. Review the patient’s potential depression risk factors

Depression risk factors include:

• Current or past experiences with depression
• Other mood disorders

Select from various standardized screening tools designed for this purpose and recognized by national professional medical organizations. APA’s Depression Assessment Instruments has more information.

3. Review the patient’s functional ability and safety level

Use direct patient observation, appropriate screening questions, or standardized questionnaires recognized by national professional medical organizations to review, at a minimum, the patient’s:

• Ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Hearing impairment
• Home and community safety, including driving when appropriate

Medicare offers cognitive assessment and care plan services for patients who show signs of impairment.

• Height, weight, body mass index (BMI) (or waist circumference, if appropriate), blood pressure, balance, and gait
• Visual acuity screen
• Other factors deemed appropriate based on medical and social history and current clinical standards

5. End-of-life planning, upon patient agreement

End-of-life planning is verbal or written information you (their physician or practitioner) can offer the patient about:

• Their ability to prepare an advance directive in case an injury or illness prevents them from making their own health care decisions
• If you agree to follow their advance directive
• This includes psychiatric advance directives

6. Review current opioid prescriptions

For a patient with a current opioid prescription:

• Review any potential opioid use disorder (OUD) risk factors
• Evaluate their pain severity and current treatment plan
• Provide information about non-opiod treatment options
• Refer to a specialist, as appropriate

The HHS Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force Report has more information. Medicare now covers monthly chronic pain management and treatment services .

7. Screen for potential SUDs

Review the patient’s potential SUD risk factors, and as appropriate, refer them to treatment. You can use a screening tool, but it’s not required. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has screening and assessment tools. Implementing Drug and Alcohol Screening in Primary Care is a helpful resource .

8. Educate, counsel, and refer based on previous components

Based on the results of the review and evaluation services from the previous components, provide the patient with appropriate education, counseling, and referrals.

9. Educate, counsel, and refer for other preventive services

Include a brief written plan, like a checklist, for the patient to get:

• A once-in-a-lifetime screening electrocardiogram (ECG), as appropriate
• Appropriate screenings and other covered preventive services

Use these HCPCS codes to file IPPE and ECG screening claims:

Initial preventive physical examination; face-to-face visit, services limited to new beneficiary during the first 12 months of medicare enrollment

Electrocardiogram, routine ecg with 12 leads; performed as a screening for the initial preventive physical examination with interpretation and report

Electrocardiogram, routine ecg with 12 leads; tracing only, without interpretation and report, performed as a screening for the initial preventive physical examination

Electrocardiogram, routine ecg with 12 leads; interpretation and report only, performed as a screening for the initial preventive physical examination

Federally qualified health center (fqhc) visit, ippe or awv; a fqhc visit that includes an initial preventive physical examination (ippe) or annual wellness visit (awv) and includes a typical bundle of medicare-covered services that would be furnished per diem to a patient receiving an ippe or awv

* Section 60.2 of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 9 has more information on how to bill HCPCS code G0468.

Report a diagnosis code when submitting IPPE claims. We don’t require you to use a specific IPPE diagnosis code, so you may choose any diagnosis code consistent with the patient’s exam.

Part B covers an IPPE when performed by a:

• Physician (doctor of medicine or osteopathy)
• Qualified non-physician practitioner (physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or certified clinical nurse specialist)

When you provide an IPPE and a significant, separately identifiable, medically necessary evaluation and management (E/M) service, we may pay for the additional service. Report the additional CPT code (99202–99205, 99211–99215) with modifier 25. That portion of the visit must be medically necessary and reasonable to treat the patient’s illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body part.

CPT only copyright 2022 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

IPPE Resources

• 42 CFR 410.16
• Section 30.6.1.1 of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12
• Section 80 of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 18
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations

No. The IPPE isn’t a routine physical that some patients may get periodically from their physician or other qualified non-physician practitioner (NPP). The IPPE is an introduction to Medicare and covered benefits, and it focuses on health promotion, disease prevention, and detection to help patients stay well. We encourage providers to inform patients about the AWV during their IPPE. The Social Security Act explicitly prohibits Medicare coverage of routine physical exams.

No. The IPPE and AWV don’t include clinical lab tests, but you may make appropriate referrals for these tests as part of the IPPE or AWV.

No. We waive the coinsurance, copayment, and Part B deductible for the IPPE (HCPCS code G0402). Neither is waived for the screening electrocardiogram (ECG) (HCPCS codes G0403, G0404, or G0405).

A patient who hasn’t had an IPPE and whose Part B enrollment began in 2023 can get an IPPE in 2024 if it’s within 12 months of the patient’s Part B enrollment effective date.

We suggest providers check with their MAC for available options to verify patient eligibility. If you have questions, find your MAC’s website .

Annual Wellness Visit Health Risk Assessment

The annual wellness visit (AWV) includes a health risk assessment (HRA). View the HRA minimum elements summary below. A Framework for Patient-Centered Health Risk Assessments has more information, including a sample HRA.

Perform an HRA

• You or the patient can update the HRA before or during the AWV
• Consider the best way to communicate with underserved populations, people who speak different languages, people with varying health literacy, and people with disabilities
• Demographic data
• Health status self-assessment
• Psychosocial risks, including, but not limited to, depression, life satisfaction, stress, anger, loneliness or social isolation, pain, suicidality, and fatigue
• Behavioral risks, including, but not limited to, tobacco use, physical activity, nutrition and oral health, alcohol consumption, sexual health, motor vehicle safety (for example, seat belt use), and home safety
• Activities of daily living (ADLs), including dressing, feeding, toileting, and grooming; physical ambulation, including balance or fall risks and bathing; and instrumental ADLs (IADLs), including using the phone, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, shopping, managing medications, and handling finances

1. Establish the patient’s medical and family history

At a minimum, document:

• Medical events of the patient’s parents, siblings, and children, including hereditary conditions that place them at increased risk
• Use of, or exposure to, medications, supplements, and other substances the person may be using

2. Establish a current providers and suppliers list

Include current patient providers and suppliers that regularly provide medical care, including behavioral health care.

• Height, weight, body mass index (BMI) (or waist circumference, if appropriate), and blood pressure
• Other routine measurements deemed appropriate based on medical and family history

4. Detect any cognitive impairments the patient may have

Check for cognitive impairment as part of the first AWV.

Assess cognitive function by direct observation or reported observations from the patient, family, friends, caregivers, and others. Consider using brief cognitive tests, health disparities, chronic conditions, and other factors that contribute to increased cognitive impairment risk. Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia Resources for Professionals has more information.

5. Review the patient’s potential depression risk factors

6. Review the patient’s functional ability and level of safety

• Ability to perform ADLs

7. Establish an appropriate patient written screening schedule

Base the written screening schedule on the:

• Checklist for the next 5–10 years
• United States Preventive Services Task Force and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations
• Patient’s HRA, health status and screening history, and age-appropriate preventive services we cover

8. Establish the patient’s list of risk factors and conditions

• A recommendation for primary, secondary, or tertiary interventions or report whether they’re underway
• Mental health conditions, including depression, substance use disorders , suicidality, and cognitive impairments
• IPPE risk factors or identified conditions
• Treatment options and associated risks and benefits

9. Provide personalized patient health advice and appropriate referrals to health education or preventive counseling services or programs

Include referrals to educational and counseling services or programs aimed at:

• Fall prevention
• Physical activity
• Tobacco-use cessation
• Social engagement
• Weight loss

10. Provide advance care planning (ACP) services at the patient’s discretion

ACP is a discussion between you and the patient about:

• Preparing an advance directive in case an injury or illness prevents them from making their own health care decisions
• Future care decisions they might need or want to make
• How they can let others know about their care preferences
• Caregiver identification
• Advance directive elements, which may involve completing standard forms

Advance directive is a general term that refers to various documents, like a living will, instruction directive, health care proxy, psychiatric advance directive, or health care power of attorney. It’s a document that appoints an agent or records a person’s wishes about their medical treatment at a future time when the individual can’t communicate for themselves. The Advance Care Planning fact sheet has more information.

We don’t limit how many times the patient can revisit the ACP during the year, but cost sharing applies outside the AWV.

11. Review current opioid prescriptions

• Review any potential OUD risk factors
• Provide information about non-opioid treatment options

12. Screen for potential SUDs

Review the patient’s potential SUD risk factors, and as appropriate, refer them for treatment. You can use a screening tool, but it’s not required. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has screening and assessment tools. Implementing Drug and Alcohol Screening in Primary Care is a helpful resource .

13. Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Risk Assessment

Starting in 2024, Medicare includes an optional SDOH Risk Assessment as part of the AWV. This assessment must follow standardized, evidence-based practices and ensure communication aligns with the patient’s educational, developmental, and health literacy level, as well as being culturally and linguistically appropriate.

1. Review and update the HRA

2. Update the patient’s medical and family history

At a minimum, document updates to:

3. Update current providers and suppliers list

Include current patient providers and suppliers that regularly provide medical care, including those added because of the first AWV personalized prevention plan services (PPPS), and any behavioral health providers.

• Weight (or waist circumference, if appropriate) and blood pressure

5. Detect any cognitive impairments patients may have

Check for cognitive impairment as part of the subsequent AWV.

6. Update the patient’s written screening schedule

Base written screening schedule on the:

7. Update the patient’s list of risk factors and conditions

• Mental health conditions, including depression, substance use disorders , and cognitive impairments
• Risk factors or identified conditions

8. As necessary, provide and update patient PPPS, including personalized health advice and appropriate referrals to health education or preventive counseling services or programs

9. Provide advance care planning (ACP) services at the patient’s discretion

10. Review current opioid prescriptions

11. Screen for potential substance use disorders (SUDs)

12. Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Risk Assessment

Preparing Eligible Patients for their AWV

Help eligible patients prepare for their AWV by encouraging them to bring this information to their appointment:

• Medical records, including immunization records
• Detailed family health history
• Full list of medications and supplements, including calcium and vitamins, and how often and how much of each they take
• Full list of current providers and suppliers involved in their care, including community-based providers (for example, personal care, adult day care, and home-delivered meals), and behavioral health specialists

Use these HCPCS codes to file AWV claims:

Annual wellness visit; includes a personalized prevention plan of service (pps), initial visit

Annual wellness visit, includes a personalized prevention plan of service (pps), subsequent visit

Report a diagnosis code when submitting AWV claims. We don’t require you to use a specific AWV diagnosis code, so you may choose any diagnosis code consistent with the patient’s exam.

Part B covers an AWV if performed by a:

• Medical professional (including health educator, registered dietitian, nutrition professional, or other licensed practitioner) or a team of medical professionals directly supervised by a physician

When you provide an AWV and a significant, separately identifiable, medically necessary evaluation and management (E/M) service, we may pay for the additional service. Report the additional CPT code (99202–99205, 99211–99215) with modifier 25. That portion of the visit must be medically necessary and reasonable to treat the patient’s illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body part.

You can only bill G0438 or G0439 once in a 12-month period. G0438 is for the first AWV, and G0439 is for subsequent AWVs. Don’t bill G0438 or G0439 within 12 months of a previous G0402 (IPPE) billing for the same patient. We deny these claims with messages indicating the patient reached the benefit maximum for the time period.

Medicare telehealth includes HCPCS codes G0438 and G0439.

ACP is the face-to-face conversation between a physician (or other qualified health care professional) and a patient to discuss their health care wishes and medical treatment preferences if they become unable to communicate or make decisions about their care. At the patient’s discretion, you can provide the ACP during the AWV.

Use these CPT codes to file ACP claims as an optional AWV element:

Advance care planning including the explanation and discussion of advance directives such as standard forms (with completion of such forms, when performed), by the physician or other qualified health care professional; first 30 minutes, face-to-face with the patient, family member(s), and/or surrogate

Advance care planning including the explanation and discussion of advance directives such as standard forms (with completion of such forms, when performed), by the physician or other qualified health care professional; each additional 30 minutes (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

Report a diagnosis code when submitting an ACP claim as an optional AWV element. We don’t require you to use a specific ACP diagnosis code as an optional AWV element, so you may choose any diagnosis code consistent with a patient’s exam.

We waive both the Part B ACP coinsurance and deductible when it’s:

• Provided on the same day as the covered AWV
• Provided by the same provider as the covered AWV
• Billed with modifier 33 (Preventive Service)
• Billed on the same claim as the AWV

We waive the ACP deductible and coinsurance once per year when billed with the AWV. If we deny the AWV billed with ACP for exceeding the once-per-year limit, we’ll apply the ACP deductible and coinsurance .

We apply the deductible and coinsurance when you deliver the ACP outside the covered AWV. There are no limits on the number of times you can report ACP for a certain patient in a certain period. When billing this service multiple times, document changes in the patient’s health status or wishes about their end-of-life care.

SDOH is important in assessing patient histories; in assessing patient risk; and in guiding medical decision making, prevention, diagnosis, care, and treatment. In the CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule , we added a new SDOH Risk Assessment as an optional, additional element of the AWV. At both yours and the patient’s discretion, you may conduct the SDOH Risk Assessment during the AWV.

Use this HCPCS code to file SDOH Risk Assessment claims as an optional AWV element:

Administration of a standardized, evidence-based social determinants of health risk assessment tool, 5-15 minutes

Report a diagnosis code when submitting an SDOH Risk Assessment claim as an optional AWV element. We don’t require you to use a specific SDOH Risk Assessment diagnosis code as an optional AWV element, so you may choose any diagnosis code consistent with a patient’s exam.

The implementation date for SDOH Risk Assessment claims is July 1, 2024. We waive both the Part B SDOH Risk Assessment coinsurance and deductible when it’s:

We waive the SDOH Risk Assessment deductible and coinsurance once per year when billed with the AWV.

If we deny the AWV billed with SDOH Risk Assessment for exceeding the once-per-year limit, we’ll apply the deductible and coinsurance. We also apply the deductible and coinsurance when you deliver the SDOH Risk Assessment outside the covered AWV.

AWV Resources

• 42 CFR 410.15
• Section 140 of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 18

No. The AWV isn’t a routine physical some patients may get periodically from their physician or other qualified NPP. We don’t cover routine physical exams.

No. We waive the coinsurance, copayment, and Part B deductible for the AWV.

We cover an AWV for all patients who’ve had Medicare coverage for longer than 12 months after their first Part B eligibility date and who didn’t have an IPPE or AWV within those past 12 months. We cover only 1 IPPE per patient per lifetime and 1 additional AWV every 12 months after the date of the patient’s last AWV (or IPPE). Check eligibility to find when a patient is eligible for their next preventive service.

Generally, you may provide other medically necessary services on the same date as an AWV. The deductible and coinsurance or copayment applies for these other medically necessary and reasonable services.

You have different options for accessing AWV eligibility information depending on where you practice. Check eligibility to find when a patient is eligible for their next preventive service. Find your MAC’s website if you have specific patient eligibility questions.

Know the Differences

An IPPE is a review of a patient’s medical and social health history and includes education about other preventive services .

• We cover 1 IPPE per lifetime for patients within the first 12 months after their Part B benefits eligibility date
• We pay IPPE costs if the provider accepts assignment

An AWV is a review of a patient’s personalized prevention plan of services and includes a health risk assessment.

• We cover an annual AWV for patients who aren’t within the first 12 months after their Part B benefits eligibility date
• We cover an annual AWV 12 months after the last AWV’s (or IPPE’s) date of service
• We pay AWV costs if the provider accepts assignment

A routine physical is an exam performed without relationship to treatment or diagnosis for a specific illness, symptom, complaint, or injury.

• We don’t cover routine physical exams, but the IPPE, AWV, or other Medicare benefits cover some routine physical elements
• Patients pay 100% out of pocket

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CPT codes, descriptions and other data only are copyright 2022 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/HHSARS apply. Fee schedules, relative value units, conversion factors and/or related components are not assigned by the AMA, are not part of CPT, and the AMA is not recommending their use. The AMA does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services. The AMA assumes no liability for data contained or not contained herein.

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What to Expect at Your Annual Wellness Visit

Once a year, you make an appointment with your primary care physician to make sure your health is in good working order and detect potential concerns early, before symptoms are noticeable.

To schedule your annual wellness or follow-up office visit with a provider in Primary Care, please visit here or login to Connect .

Most insurance plans cover your annual wellness exam — no copay required. However, you may find the actual components of a wellness visit a bit confusing.

Review the FAQs below to learn what to expect during your next annual wellness visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in a wellness visit.

Your annual wellness visit includes the following:

• A review of your medical and surgical history
• Screenings - we generally follow screening recommendations of the USPSTF
• Blood tests
• Immunizations - we follow the vaccine schedules published by the CDC
• A physical exam
• Counseling to prevent future health problems 

How should I prepare for my visit?

Please check in via Connect up to 5 days before your visit to make sure we have your most up-to-date information, including your medications, medical history and insurance. You will be able to update these, along with your preferred pharmacy. You can also review and update your responses to your health questionnaire.

Please fast for at least 4 hours prior to your visit. You may drink water or black coffee, and take your maintenance medications.  Pediatric and Gynecology patients should not fast.

On the day of your appointment, please arrive on time and bring your insurance card and ID.

What if I need to ask my doctor about a specific medical issue?

Specific issues are considered part of a follow-up or “sick” visit. These aspects of your visit will be billed to your insurance, and you may be responsible for copayments, coinsurance or deductible payments, based on the terms of your policy.

If you would like to address non-routine concerns during your wellness visit, you can let your doctor know about these issues when you schedule your appointment. Depending on their complexity, the questions may need to be dealt with at a later time.

What does a follow-up or “sick” visit include?

• Treatment of a chronic condition such as diabetes, asthma or high blood pressure
• Any new problems or complaints
• Your need for new medications or tests
• Referrals to a specialist
• Additional treatment options

What is a Medicare annual wellness visit and what does it include?

The Medicare annual wellness visit, covered by Medicare, allows your health-care provider to conduct a health risk assessment and propose screenings and prevention strategies. As well, your provider will make sure all your immunizations, cancer screenings and other screenings are discussed and scheduled.

Your Medicare wellness visit does not include a detailed physical exam or management of chronic or new medical problems . Your physician may be able to perform a complete physical and address new or existing medical issues during your Medicare annual wellness visit, but you could incur additional charges.

What to expect during your Medicare annual wellness visit

At your Medicare annual wellness visit, your health care provider will:

• Review your blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight and body mass index (BMI).
• Review your current health problems, as well as your medical, surgical, family and social histories.
• Review your current medications.
• Conduct a health risk assessment.
• Provide nutrition counseling.
• Discuss an exercise plan to fit your lifestyle.
• Discuss smoking cessation and arrange for counseling, if needed.
• Discuss fall prevention.
• Discuss advance care planning.
• Discuss preventive screenings recommended by evidence-based practice guidelines that are indicated for you based upon your age, risk factors and family history

How to prepare for your Medicare wellness visit

Bring these items to your visit:

• Immunization records
• A list of current prescribed medicines, supplements and over-the-counter medications
• A list of your patient care team—any specialists you see for various types of care
• Be prepared to review your family medical history.

Can I combine a Medicare or non-Medicare wellness visit with a follow up visit?

Combining a wellness visit with a follow-up office visit will save you time by eliminating an extra appointment, but doing so may affect your costs. Additional concerns beyond a wellness visit may be billed to your insurance, which can  result in unplanned out-of-pocket costs to you. For these reasons, Weill Cornell Primary Care recommends that you schedule your annual wellness visit and any follow-up or sick office visits separately.

What are the most important points I need to keep in mind?

• Review your insurance plan’s summary of benefits before your appointment to understand what your insurance company will or will not cover.
• When scheduling a wellness visit, clearly state that you would like to make an appointment for your annual wellness or preventive care exam. That will help the practice prepare for your visit and bill your insurance company appropriately.
• When you speak with your doctor or other practitioner, let them know you are there for a wellness exam. Or, if you need to discuss a specific concern that may require treatment, make sure to bring their attention to any non-routine concerns at the start of your appointment.

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Medicare Annual Wellness Exam: What You Need to Know

• by Lisa Eramo, MA
• January 12, 2024
• Reviewed by John Krahnert

If you have Medicare Part B insurance, you may have heard about the Medicare annual wellness exam , which is a free benefit. However, you may still have questions about the purpose of the exam and how it can help you. For instance, it’s important to know that the annual wellness exam is covered in full by Medicare, but it’s not the same as a routine physical exam , which isn’t covered by Medicare.

This article answers some of the most common questions about the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) so that you can make the most of this important yearly health checkup.

What is the purpose of the Medicare annual wellness exam?

The purpose of the Medicare annual wellness exam is to develop or update your personalized prevention plan and perform a health risk assessment .

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It’s an opportunity for you and your primary care doctor to touch base about preventable health diseases and keep you on the right track toward living a healthy and active lifestyle.

What’s included in the Medicare annual wellness exam?

First, your primary care doctor will ask you to fill out a questionnaire called a Health Risk Assessment that evaluates your health status, frailty and physical functioning.

It also assesses other aspects of your health, such as:

• Psychosocial risks (e.g., depression/life satisfaction, stress, anger, loneliness/social isolation, pain, and fatigue)
• Behavioral risks (e.g.,  tobacco use, physical activity, nutrition and oral health, alcohol consumption, sexual health, motor vehicle safety and home safety)
• Activities of daily living (e.g., dressing, feeding, toileting, bathing, grooming, physical ambulation including balance and your risk of falls)

After reviewing this assessment, your primary care doctor will likely provide a variety of other services and talk to you about preventable health diseases.

In particular, they will:

• Review your medical and family history
• Develop or update a list of your current providers and prescriptions
• Take routine measurements such as height, weight and blood pressure
• Assess for any cognitive impairment
• Talk to you about screenings, vaccinations and other preventive services .

They may also provide advance care planning , which refers to planning for care you would receive if you became unable to speak for yourself.

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When am I eligible for the Medicare annual wellness exam?

You’re eligible as soon as you’ve had Medicare Part B for 12 months . At that point, you can get a yearly wellness exam once every 12 months thereafter.

Does Medicare require a wellness exam?

Medicare does not require a wellness exam; however, it’s still important to take advantage of this important benefit. That’s because the wellness exam gives you an opportunity to get personalized health advice.

You can talk about any healthcare concerns you may have, ask questions about your medications, talk about changes to your diet or exercise routine and more.

Is the Medicare wellness exam free?

Yes, the Medicare annual wellness exam is a Medicare-covered service as long as your primary care doctor accepts Medicare. It won’t cost you anything unless your doctor performs additional tests or services during the same exam. If they do, you may owe a coinsurance or copayment depending on the service provided.

What’s the difference between a Medicare annual wellness exam and the Initial Preventive Physical Exam?

The Initial Preventive Physical Exam (sometimes referred to as the “Welcome to Medicare” exam) is a one-time exam also focused on preventable health diseases that occurs within the first 12 months of your Medicare Part B coverage.

Many of the services you receive during the Welcome to Medicare visit are the same as ones you get during the annual wellness exam (e.g., medical history review, personalized prevention plan and social health history review), and like the wellness exam, there is no cost to you if your doctor accepts Medicare.

What’s the difference between a Medicare annual wellness exam and a routine physical exam?

A routine physical exam is an exam that is not related to a specific illness, symptom, complaint or injury.

A routine physical exam is not a Medicare-covered service, meaning you will typically owe 100% of the amount due.

What can I do to prepare for the Medicare annual wellness exam?

There are several ways you can prepare for this exam. For example, you can write down all medications (and doses) you take or put them in a bag to bring with you to the appointment. This includes prescriptions, non-prescriptions, vitamins, supplements and herbal medications. Also write down your family medical history so you don’t forget anything.

Likewise, you can compile a list of all the healthcare providers you see, including their full names, addresses and phone numbers.

Another helpful way to prepare is to jot down any health-related questions or concerns in advance. You can hand the paper directly to your physician, or you can read the questions aloud. Bring a notebook with you to write down important information and advice.

If your appointment is via telehealth , be sure you know the steps to log onto the telehealth platform, and have your computer or mobile device fully charged and ready to go.

Make an appointment with your doctor today for your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, or call a licensed insurance agent to learn about additional preventive care benefits that may be available in some Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans.

Find Medicare Advantage plans in your area

Or call 1-800-557-6059 1-800-557-6059 TTY Users: 711  to speak with a licensed insurance agent. We accept calls 24/7!

About the author

Lisa Eramo is an independent health care writer whose work appears in the Journal of the American Health Information Management Association, Healthcare Financial Management Association, For The Record Magazine, Medical Economics, Medscape and more.

Lisa studied creative writing at Hamilton College and obtained a master’s degree in journalism from Northeastern University. She is a member of the American Health Information Management Association, American Academy of Professional Coders, Society of Professional Journalists, Association of Health Care Journalists and the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Lisa currently resides in Cranston, Rhode Island with her wife and two-year-old twin boys.

Website : LisaEramo.com

LinkedIn : Lisa Eramo

Twitter : @Lisa_Eramo

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Doctor Visits

Get Your Medicare Wellness Visit Every Year

Take Action

If you have Medicare, be sure to schedule a yearly wellness visit with your doctor or nurse. A yearly wellness visit is a great way to help you stay healthy.

What happens during a yearly wellness visit?

First, the doctor or nurse will ask you to fill out a questionnaire called a health risk assessment. Answering these questions will help you get the most from your yearly wellness visit.

During your visit, the doctor or nurse will:

• Go over your health risk assessment with you
• Measure your height and weight and check your blood pressure
• Ask about your health history and conditions that run in your family 
• Ask about other doctors you see and any medicines you take
• Give advice to help you prevent disease, improve your health, and stay well
• Look for any changes in your ability to think, learn, or remember
• Ask about any risk factors for substance use disorder and talk with you about treatment options, if needed

If you take opioids to treat pain, the doctor or nurse may talk with you about your risk factors for opioid use disorder, review your treatment plan, and tell you about non-opioid treatment options. They may also refer you to a specialist. 

Finally, the doctor or nurse may give you a short, written plan to take home. This plan will include any screening tests and other preventive services that you’ll need in the next several years. Preventive services are health care services that keep you from getting sick. 

Learn more about yearly wellness visits .

Plan Your Visit

When can i go for a yearly wellness visit.

You can start getting Medicare wellness visits after you’ve had Medicare Part B for at least 12 months. Keep in mind you’ll need to wait 12 months in between Medicare wellness visits.

Do I need to have a “Welcome to Medicare” visit first?

You don’t need to have a “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit before getting a yearly wellness visit.

If you choose to get the “Welcome to Medicare” visit during the first 12 months you have Medicare Part B, you’ll have to wait 12 months before you can get your first yearly wellness visit. 

Learn more about the “Welcome to Medicare” visit .

What about cost?

With Medicare Part B, you can get a wellness visit once a year at no cost to you. Check to make sure the doctor or nurse accepts Medicare when you schedule your appointment.

If you get any tests or services that aren’t included in the yearly wellness visit (like an extra blood test), you may have to pay some of those costs.

Who Can Get Medicare?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program. You may be able to get Medicare if you:

• Are age 65 or older
• Are under age 65 and have a disability
• Have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's disease
• Have permanent kidney failure (called end-stage renal disease)

You must be living in the United States legally for at least 5 years to qualify for Medicare.  Answer these questions to find out when you can sign up for Medicare .

Make an Appointment

Take these steps to help you get the most out of your Medicare yearly wellness visit.

Schedule your Medicare yearly wellness visit.

Call your doctor’s office and ask to schedule your Medicare yearly wellness visit. Make sure it’s been at least 12 months since your last wellness visit.

If you're looking for a new doctor,  check out these tips on choosing a doctor you can trust .  

To find a doctor who accepts Medicare:

• Search for a doctor on the Medicare website
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
• If you use a TTY, call Medicare at 1-877-486-2048

Gather important information.

Take any medical records or information you have to the appointment. Make sure you have important information like:

• The name and phone number of a friend or relative to call if there’s an emergency
• Dates and results of checkups and screening tests
• A list of vaccines (shots) you’ve gotten and the dates you got them
• Medicines you take (including over-the-counter medicines and vitamins), how much you take, and why you take them
• Phone numbers and addresses of other places you go to for health care, including your pharmacy

Make a list of any important changes in your life or health.

Your doctor or nurse will want to know about any big changes since your last visit. For example, write down things like:

• Losing your job
• A death in the family
• A serious illness or injury
• A change in your living situation

Know your family health history.

Your family's health history is an important part of your personal health record.  Use this family health history tool  to keep track of conditions that run in your family. Take this information to your yearly wellness visit.

Ask Questions

Make a list of questions you want to ask the doctor..

This visit is a great time to ask the doctor or nurse any questions about:

• A health condition
• Changes in sleeping or eating habits
• Pain or discomfort
• Prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, or supplements

Some important questions include:

• Do I need to get any vaccines to protect my health?
• How can I get more physical activity?
• Am I at a healthy weight?
• Do I need to make any changes to my eating habits?

Use this question builder tool  to make a list of things to ask your doctor or nurse.

It can be helpful to write down the answers so you remember them later. You may also want to take a friend or relative with you for support — they can take notes, too.

What to Expect

Know what to expect at your visit..

The doctor or nurse will ask you questions about your health and safety, like:

• Do you have stairs in your home?
• What do you do to stay active?
• Have you lost interest in doing things you usually enjoy?
• Do you have a hard time hearing people on the phone?
• What medicines, vitamins, or supplements do you take regularly?

The doctor or nurse will also do things like:

• Measure your height and weight
• Check your blood pressure
• Ask about your medical and family history

Make a wellness plan with your doctor.

During the yearly wellness visit, the doctor or nurse may give you a short, written plan — like a checklist — to take home with you. This written plan will include a list of preventive services that you’ll need over the next 5 to 10 years.

Your plan may include:

• Getting important screenings for cancer or other diseases
• Making healthy changes, like getting more physical activity

Follow up after your visit.

During your yearly wellness visit, the doctor or nurse may recommend that you see a specialist or get certain tests. Try to schedule these follow-up appointments before you leave your wellness visit.

If that’s not possible, put a reminder note on your calendar to schedule your follow-up appointments.

Add any new health information to your personal health documents.

Make your next wellness visit easier by updating your medical information in the personal health documents you keep at home. Write down any vaccines you got and the results of any screening tests.

Medicare offers an online tool called  MyMedicare  to help you track your personal health information and Medicare claims. If you have your Medicare number, you can  sign up for your MyMedicare account now .

Healthy Habits

Take care of yourself all year long..

After your visit, follow the plan you made with your doctor or nurse to stay healthy. Your plan may include:

• Getting important screenings
• Getting vaccines for older adults
• Keeping your heart healthy
• Preventing type 2 diabetes
• Lowering your risk of falling

Your plan could also include:

• Getting active
• Eating healthy
• Quitting smoking
• Watching your weight

Content last updated February 9, 2023

Reviewer Information

This information on Medicare wellness visits was adapted from materials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Reviewed by: Rachel Katonak Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Division of Policy and Evidence Review Coverage and Analysis Group

November 2022

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Medicare Annual Wellness Visit

Written by: Eleesha Dominique

Reviewed by: Malinda Cannon, Licensed Insurance Agent

Key Takeaways

Medicare covers one Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) every 12 months, at no cost, for Medicare Part B beneficiaries A beneficiary is a person who enrolls in a health insurance plan and receives benefits. .

Medicare’s AWV includes a Health Risk Assessment (HRA) and a Personalized Prevention Plan (PPP) to help beneficiaries prepare for the future.

Medicare also covers one Initial Preventive Physical Examination (IPPE) within 12 months of joining Medicare Part B Medicare Part B is the portion of Medicare that covers your medical expenses. Sometimes called "medical insurance," Part B helps pay for the Medicare-approved services you receive. .

What is Included in an Annual Medicare Wellness Visit?

Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is a preventive service in which your doctor assesses your current health to create a personalized health plan for your future. [i] Medicare Part B covers an AWV once every 12 months. During your AWV, your doctor will gather information about the following components of your health:

• Your medical history
• Your family history
• Your current medications and supplements
• Your ability to perform daily activities
• Your safety level, including fall risk, hearing impairment, and safety at home
• Your current medical providers

Your doctor will also perform a series of assessments and screenings, including:

• A brief physical exam, including height, weight, BMI, and blood pressure
• A cognitive function assessment
• A depression risk assessment
• A substance use disorder screening

When you visit your doctor for your AWV, they will also perform a Health Risk Assessment (HRA), which is a questionnaire that gathers information about the following subjects:

• Your mental health, including depression, stress, anger, pain, fatigue, and social activity
• Your tobacco and alcohol use
• Your physical activity
• Your nutrition habits
• Your sexual health
• Your safety inside and outside the home
• Your ability to perform activities at home, such as getting dressed
• Your ability to perform activities outside of the home, such as grocery shopping

Once you’ve had your first AWV with your doctor, you and your doctor will continue to update your information and personalized health plan at each follow-up visit.

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How Much Does Medicare Pay for Annual Wellness Visit?

Medicare Part B will completely cover the cost of your AWV once every 12 months, as long as this service is performed by a provider who accepts Medicare assignment. [i] This means that you will not have to pay any out-of-pocket costs, including a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible , for this service.

You can receive additional services or tests during your Medicare wellness visit, but you will be responsible for the cost of other care not considered part of a Medicare wellness exam.

What Happens at a Medicare Wellness Visit?

When you arrive for your AWV, your doctor will likely begin the appointment by having you fill out an HRA questionnaire. Your HRA should take roughly 20-30 minutes to complete and can be filled out by yourself or with the help of your physician. After completing your HRA, your doctor will continue to collect information about your health, such as your personal and family history, your current state of health, and any other relevant information to assess your health and disease risk. Also, if you have Medicare wellness exam questions, your doctor can provide answers.

Once your doctor has finished collecting all the relevant information during your wellness visit, they can provide you with personalized advice and referrals for services to maintain or improve your health. Also, if you have Medicare wellness exam questions, your doctor can provide answers.

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Is Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visit mandatory?

Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visit is not mandatory, so you are not required to book this visit with your doctor if you don’t want to. However, since Medicare does not cover annual physical exams, an AWV is one of the best ways to be proactive about your health and prepare for your future. In addition, since Medicare’s AWV covers cognitive testing, it can play a crucial role in the early diagnosis of cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Can I refuse the Medicare Annual Wellness visit?

Since Medicare’s AWV is not mandatory, you can refuse this service if your doctor offers it to you. However, an AWV can help your doctor uncover potential health concerns and provide an action plan for moving forward. During your AWV, your doctor can also provide you with referrals for bloodwork, specialists, and any other Medicare-covered services you might need.

If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, you should consider taking advantage of this no cost annual exam.

Does Medicare Pay for Yearly Physicals?

Original Medicare does not cover or pay for yearly physical exams. Instead, Medicare Part B covers one Initial Preventive Physical Examination (IPPE) within the first 12 months of signing up for Medicare Part B. [i] During an IPPE, your doctor will cover many of the same services as the AWV. However, the IPPE is considered more of a “welcome” visit for first-time Medicare beneficiaries looking to establish care.

Original Medicare does not pay for yearly physicals. Medicare Advantage plans may offer coverage for annual physical exams and other services not included under Original Medicare. Still, Medicare Advantage plans are private insurance, and the benefits provided can vary from plan to plan.

Have questions about your Medicare coverage?

When Did Medicare Stop Paying for Annual Physicals?

You’re not alone if you’ve asked, does Medicare cover annual physicals? The answer is, no. Unfortunately, Medicare has never offered annual physical exams as part of their covered services. Medicare didn’t even offer the IPPE or AWV until they expanded their preventive services in 2011. [i] However, with the introduction of Medicare Advantage plans in 2003, some private Medicare plans may have offered services like annual physicals as part of their additional benefits.

Do I need a referral to schedule an Annual Wellness Visit with my doctor?

Medicare does not require beneficiaries to have a referral for an AWV. Also, there’s not a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit template for the type of provider you visit. Your AWV can be performed by your primary care physician , or any other provider of your choice, as long as they accept Medicare assignment. If you choose to receive a wellness exam from a provider that does not accept Medicare, you will be responsible for the full cost of your visit.

Does an Annual Wellness Visit include a physical exam or diagnostic laboratory tests?

Medicare will not cover additional services, like physical exams or diagnostic laboratory testing, during your AWV. However, if you want or need additional services, your doctor may be able to provide you with a separate referral to have these services performed. Many of the additional services you might need, such as laboratory testing, are still covered by Medicare outside of the AWV. [i]

What out-of-pocket costs will I owe for my Annual Wellness Visit?

Medicare Part B will cover 100% of the costs of your AWV, as long as you receive this service from a Medicare provider. Medicare will not cover this service more than once every 12 months, so it is important not to schedule this appointment more than once per year. Also, it is important to remember that if you undergo additional services or testing during your AWV, you will be responsible for the costs of these services out-of-pocket.

Medicare Wellness Visits TRUSTED & VERIFIED cms.gov . CMS.gov.

Yearly “Wellness” visits TRUSTED & VERIFIED medicare.gov . Medicare.gov.

“Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit . Medicare.gov.

CMS TO EXPAND MEDICARE PREVENTIVE SERVICES AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE IN 2011 . CMS.gov.

Diagnostic laboratory tests . Medicare.gov.

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What is an annual wellness visit.

March 28, 2022

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Dear Marci,  

My sister just went to her doctor for an Annual Wellness Visit and recommended I do the same. I don’t think I’ve had this type of appointment before, though. What is it and what should I expect?   

-Douglas (Westminster, CO)  

Dear Douglas,  

The Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is a yearly appointment with your primary care provider (PCP) to create or update a personalized prevention plan. This plan may help prevent illness based on your current health and risk factors. Keep in mind that the AWV is not a head-to-toe physical. Also, this service is similar to but separate from the one-time Welcome to Medicare preventive visit .  

During your first Annual Wellness Visit, your PCP will develop your personalized prevention plan. Your PCP may also:  

• Check your height, weight, blood pressure, and other routine measurements  
• Give you a health risk assessment  
• Review your functional ability and level of safety  
• Learn about your medical and family history  
• Make a list of your current providers, durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers, and medications  
• Create a written 5-10 year screening schedule or check-list  
• Screen for cognitive impairment, including diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia  
• Screen for depression  
• Provide health advice and referrals to health education and/or preventive counseling services aimed at reducing identified risk factors and promoting wellness  

AWVs after your first visit may be different. At subsequent AWVs, your doctor should:  

• Check your weight and blood pressure  
• Update the health risk assessment you completed  
• Update your medical and family history  
• Update your list of current medical providers and suppliers  
• Update your written screening schedule  
• Screen for cognitive issues  
• Provide health advice and referrals to health education and/or preventive counseling services  

Original Medicare covers the Annual Wellness Visit at 100% of the Medicare-approved amount when you receive the service from a participating provider . This means you pay nothing (no deductible or coinsurance). Medicare Advantage Plans are required to cover AWVs without applying deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance when you see an in-network provider and meet Medicare’s  requirements for the service.  

Contact your healthcare provider if you want to schedule your Annual Wellness Visit!  

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What Should be Included in an Annual Wellness Visit?

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While every wellness visit is different, there are some things you can expect your physician will check every year.

Every wellness visit is a little different. You have different health needs than other patients and those needs change as you age and your lifestyle habits change. You might see your primary care physician several times each year, or only this one time, so your communication pattern with your doctor will be different than it is with the rest of your doctor’s patients.

“Annual exams allow for a yearly health assessment,” said Dr. Aaron Blanzy , Beaumont family medicine, with Beaumont Blanzy Clinic in Southgate . “This is important so we can detect any underlying heath issues early before they become symptomatic.”

There are some things that your physician will almost certainly check at your wellness exam, many of which depend on your age . There are also some things your physician should complete annually regardless of age, including:

• height and weight
• blood pressure
• body scan for suspicious moles or skin lesions
• listen to heart and lungs
• check abdomen, thyroid glands and lymph nodes for abnormalities
• check eyesight
• checking on any chronic conditions

The screenings your physician will perform can be crucial to detecting early symptoms of a disease.

HEALTH HISTORY

You should also review your complete medical and family health history to see if anything has changed since your last check-up. You may need to start a certain screening at an earlier age because of a family member who was diagnosed with a disease, or because of other risk factors.

“Knowing your family health history is important because many diseases are genetically linked,” Dr. Blanzy said. “Making your doctor aware of family history helps with proper screening and disease prevention.”

QUESTIONS AND NOTES

It is recommended that patients keep a list of questions to ask at annual appointments, especially if you typically only see your primary care physician at your annual wellness visit . You should bring that list each time so you remember all of the questions you had, and can write down the responses from the physician.

“Self-exams are important to detect changes that you can talk to your doctor about,” Dr. Blanzy said. “Patients that do routine self-exams show that they take an active role in their health care.”

It is crucial to be honest about your self-exams at home as well. The recommendations for women to complete monthly self-breast exams and men to complete monthly self-testicular exams are for patients to get used to what feels normal, so they can identify when something seems out of the ordinary. Your physician will ask about these self-exams and it’s important to respond with an honest update. The more your physician knows about your lifestyle habits, the better he or she can help you develop a plan to prevent and treat or control diseases like diabetes and cancers.

Adults aren’t the only ones who should be visiting their primary care physician regularly. Your children should visit their pediatrician’s office regularly, and once your child outgrows their pediatrician’s office it’s important to maintain yearly wellness visits .

Annual exams are important to everyone’s health. By having regular appointments with honest communication, you and your physician can develop a plan for your health care needs.

Next Steps and Helpful Resources

• Learn how to expertly find  a new primary care doctor.
• Get the most out of your annual wellness visit.
• Learn what health screenings  you should have at your age.
• Schedule an appointment with primary care doctor near you .

Find a Primary Care Doctor

248-965-1860, women's yearly wellness physical, men's yearly wellness physical, related stories, get the most out of your wellness visit.

Check out these tips for getting the most out of that time with your doctor.

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What Is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?

• How the Medical Wellness Visit Works
• Types of AWVs

Routine Physical Exam vs. AWV

• Requirements
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Medicare Annual Wellness Visit: What Is It?

Luis Alvarez / Getty Images

The Medicare annual wellness visit is a free preventive benefit available to Medicare beneficiaries every 12 months. Both Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage offer this visit with your doctor to review your mental and physical health and cognitive abilities. Together, you create a personalized plan to address concerns based on your current health and any risk factors. 

Key Takeaways

• The Medicare annual wellness visit is a check-in every 12 months with your healthcare provider.
• Your provider assesses your current and recent physical and mental state and looks for potential risk factors. 
• The annual wellness visit isn’t an appointment to address new health concerns or symptoms. Bringing these up could lead to additional charges from your doctor’s office.
• Both Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans offer Medicare annual wellness visits.

How the Medical Wellness Visit Works 

The annual wellness visit includes a health risk assessment, a review of your medical and family health history, a collection of your current healthcare providers and suppliers, and a self-assessment of your health status.

In advance, the doctor will likely give you a questionnaire. It takes about five minutes to fill out.

The Medicare annual wellness visit attempts to uncover any changes impacting your ability to care for yourself (such as dressing, shopping, and financial management ) and increased health risks from behavioral factors (smoking, physical activity, seat belt use) and emotional factors (depression, anger, loneliness).

The doctor will measure and document: 

• Demographic information
• Body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference
• Blood pressure
• Other measurements based on medical and family history
• Any cognitive impairments
• Potential depression risk factors
• Ability to perform daily activities
• Risk of a fall 
• Any hearing impairment
• Potential substance use disorders and opioid prescriptions
• Other safety concerns

Using this information, the doctor helps maintain a screening schedule based on your risk factors and conditions. You’ll get personalized advice and referrals to health services and programs to help address physical safety and mental health issues and control risk factors such as smoking.  

Your wellness visit can also include advance care planning, also known as advance directive planning. This is a face-to-face conversation between you and your healthcare professional about your healthcare wishes and medical treatment preferences should you become unable to communicate or make decisions about your care. 

You won’t pay anything for your visit (including the Part B deductible) if your doctor accepts the Medicare assignment. 

But to have the visit remain free, you’ll also need to stay within the Medicare annual wellness visit’s boundaries of discussion topics. Don’t talk about your new knee ache; make a separate appointment for that. 

If your doctor orders additional tests or services outside the scope of a Medical wellness visit, you will have to pay the coinsurance and Part B deductible for those tests. 

Types of Medicare Annual Wellness Visits

There are two types of Medicare annual wellness visits (AWVs)—the initial AWV and follow-up AWVs that happen in subsequent years. 

Your first Medicare annual wellness visit will be more thorough than later ones. It will include establishing a baseline regarding your physical and mental health history, risk factors, and any signs of cognitive impairment. You'll also set up a personalized screening schedule going forward. The doctor will discuss your advance care planning if you wish. 

After the first visit, the wellness visits review and update changes to the above, including:

• Health risk assessment
• Medical and family history 
• Current providers and suppliers
• Weight and blood pressure measurements
• Cognitive impairment assessment
• Written screening schedule 
• Risk factors and interventions 
• Referrals to services and programs
• Advance care planning
• Opioid prescriptions 

Your annual wellness exam reviews your personalized prevention plan of services and is focused on managing health risks. Medicare covers an annual AWV 12 months after the last AWV (date of service), paying all costs as long as the doctor accepts Medicare. The AWV can also incorporate advance care planning discussions.

In comparison, a routine physical is a medical exam performed without addressing treatment or diagnosis for a specific illness, symptom, complaint, or injury. 

Original Medicare does not cover routine physical exams; patients must pay all costs out of pocket. However, some Medicare Advantage plans cover annual physicals.

Physical exams don’t typically include discussions of advance care planning. However, the AWV and other Medicare benefits cover some aspects of the routine physical, so you may see some overlap.

Requirements for the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit

For Medicare to cover your Medicare annual wellness visit, it must be performed by a physician (doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine) or a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or clinical nurse specialist. 

You must have been enrolled in Medicare Part B for more than 12 months. In other words, your first yearly wellness visit can’t occur within 12 months of your Part B enrollment. 

Your Medicare annual wellness visit also can’t take place within 12 months of your “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit, which happens when you first join Medicare. That visit reviews your health-related medical and social history and provides education on preventive services. The “Welcome to Medicare” visit is called the Initial Preventive Physical Exam or IPPE.

However, to qualify for your annual wellness visit, you don’t need to have completed the “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit.

To prepare for your Medicare annual wellness visit, you’ll need to bring: 

• Medical records
• Immunization records
• Family health history
• A list of all medications, supplements, and vitamins, and information on how often and how much of each you take
• A list of your current healthcare providers and suppliers, including mental health specialists

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

What’s the difference between a medicare wellness visit and an annual physical.

A wellness visit isn’t designed to incorporate a full panel of lab tests and in-office exams. It’s more of a quick check-in with your doctor using Medicare’s standardized list of questions concerning your overall mental and physical health and your ability to care for yourself. 

Does the Medicare Wellness Exam Include Blood Work?

No, the Medicare Annual Wellness Exam’s coverage doesn’t include clinical lab tests. Your doctor could make a referral for blood tests or lab tests as part of the AWV. Medicare Part B typically covers medically necessary lab work, such as blood tests.

Does Medicare Cover an Annual Physical?

Some Medicare Advantage plans cover an annual physical, but Original Medicare does not. However, Original Medicare Part B does cover dozens of preventive tests, screenings, and services that are usually part of a routine preventive physical, including screening for: 

• Colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer 
• Abdominal aortic aneurysms (via ultrasound)
• Cardiovascular disease 

The Medicare annual wellness visit allows you to discuss your overall health, quality of life, mental health, mood, and ability to think with your doctor. Your care provider can watch for changes and order more tests or help with necessary interventions. Catching problems early can keep you healthier and help you avoid expensive treatments later on. 

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “ Medicare Wellness Visits .”

Medicare.gov. “ Yearly ‘Wellness’ Visits .”

Medicare.gov. “ Preventative and Screening Services .”

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What is the difference between a physical exam and a Medicare Wellness Visit?

Published by Medicare Made Clear®

The difference between a physical exam and a Medicare Wellness Visit is basically the difference between your doctor focusing on what’s wrong versus on what’s right. Each is important, depending on the situation.

When you’re sick or in pain, you want to get better. A physical exam helps your doctor figure out what the problem is and what needs to be done.

When you’re healthy and feeling good, you want to stay that way. A wellness exam helps your doctor understand what’s working for you and how to best support your continued health and well-being.

Your doctor performs specific tasks in each of these two exams in order to achieve its purpose. See below for a chart that lists some of the services that may be covered in a physical exam versus a Medicare wellness visit, or that may be covered in both.

NOTE: this chart is not complete and you should ask your physician what is covered and your Medicare plan provider to understand how different health services may or may not be covered.

What’s included in a physical exam?

An annual physical exam is an assessment of your body’s health. The primary purpose is to look for health problems.

During the exam, your doctor uses his or her senses – mainly sight, touch and hearing – to gauge how your body is performing. Based on what’s learned, your doctor may ask you to have tests to discover or rule out possible health problems.

The list below shows some of the things your doctor may do during a physical exam.

Visually check your body overall for signs of existing health issues

Look into your eyes, ears, nose and throat for potential problems

Listen to your heart and lungs to detect irregular sounds

Touch parts of your body to feel for abnormalities

Test your motor function and reflexes

Perform pelvic and rectal exams

Measure your height, weight and blood pressure

As a rule, Medicare does not cover an annual physical. The exam and any tests your doctor orders are separate services, and you may have costs related to each depending on your Medicare plan.

What’s included in a Medicare Wellness Visit?

A Medicare Wellness Visit, also called a wellness exam, is an assessment of your overall health and well-being. The primary purpose is prevention – either to develop or update your personalized prevention plan. Medicare covers a wellness visit once every 12 months (11 full months must have passed since your last visit), and you are eligible for this benefit after you have had Part B for at least 12 months.

During the exam, your primary care provider combines information from the visit with your medical record to gauge your risk for common preventable health problems such as heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. Based on what’s learned, your doctor creates your personal prevention plan with a checklist of screenings you need to have.

The list below shows some of the things your doctor may do during a wellness exam.

Review your health risk assessment (questions you answer about your health)

Confirm your medical and family history

Record your current prescriptions and providers

Measure and document your height, weight, and blood pressure

Look for signs of memory loss, dementia, or frailty

Document your health risk factors and treatment options

Provide personalized health advice

Develop a screening schedule (like a checklist) for the preventive services recommended for you

Medicare Part B covers an annual wellness exam and many preventive screenings with no copay or deductible. However, you may have to pay a share of the cost for certain recommended tests or services. And while it’s not mandatory, there are very good  reasons to have a wellness exam  every year.

What is a "Welcome to Medicare" visit?

Medicare Part B covers a "Welcome to Medicare" visit. This visit is also called an Initial Preventive Physical Exam (IPPE). You are eligible for this benefit once within the first 12 months you are enrolled in Part B

What to expect at your "Welcome to Medicare" visit

During the visit your provider will:

Record and evaluate your medical and family history, current health conditions and prescriptions.

Check your blood pressure, vision, weight and height to get a baseline for your care.

Make sure you are up-to-date with preventive screenings and services, such as cancer screenings and shots.

Order further tests, depending on your general health and medical history.

You do not pay a copayment for your "Welcome to Medicare" visit. The Part B deductible does not apply to the cost of the visit either.

After the visit, your provider will give you a personalized prevention plan or checklist with the screenings and preventive services recommended for you. These services are not part of the "Welcome to Medicare" visit. You may have to pay a co-payment for the recommended services when you get them. Your Part B deductible may also apply.

Learn more about what to expect at your Medicare wellness visit.

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What is an Annual Wellness Visit and Why is it Important?

by Charles Smith, RN, BSN

Annual Wellness Visit

If you or your loved one are 65 years or older,  you may have heard about Medicare’s free benefit called the Annual Wellness Visit.  Here are some things you need to know and what to expect during your Annual Wellness Visit:

What is the Annual Wellness Visit?

The Annual Wellness Visit is NOT a physical. Rather, it is conversation between you and your doctor to discuss your health history and any concerns you may have regarding your health, and to review your medications and immunizations. It also is a time when you and your doctor review your existing health problems; determine what health issues may become a concern in the future and how to prevent them.

The goals of an Annual Wellness Visit are to create a complete personal and family health history and to help prevent future health problems.

What to Bring to Your Annual Wellness Visit

• A list of all of your medications, including vitamins and supplements
• Names of all of your healthcare providers, including doctors, pharmacists, therapists, home health agencies, and non-traditional providers
• Your immunization records, including flu or pneumonia shots

HIPPA laws prevent physicians from sharing information about you with one another without your permission. This is why it is important to bring this information with you to your Annual Wellness Visit, particularly if you see multiple healthcare providers.

What to Expect

The Annual Wellness Visit is performed either by your physician, a nurse or a nurse practitioner. You can expect your provider to discuss with you your health history, medications, healthcare team and immunization schedule. Other components of the Annual Wellness Visit are a Health Risk Assessment, a Wellness Schedule, Advance Directives and a Personal Health Record.

Your Health History

The AWV begins with your doctor collecting your family and personal health history. Your physician may have most of this information, but it is important to provide information that is not in your records to ensure that your health history is correct and complete.

Medication Review

Your doctor will review your list of medications, including those prescribed by other physicians, to ensure that there are no negative interactions. This is a good time to ask questions you may have about your medications.

Your Healthcare Team

Your provider will create a comprehensive list of your healthcare team for future reference.

Immunization Schedule

Your doctor will review your immunizations and determine if you need additional vaccines.

Health Risk Assessment

A Health Risk Assessment includes your weight, height and blood pressure. You will be asked such questions as your ability to care for yourself, your memory, whether or not you are depressed, and your smoking and drinking habits.The purpose is to determine if you are at risk for future illnesses. Once the Health Risk Assessment is completed, your doctor may recommend screenings in the event some concerns arose during the assessment. These screenings will be performed during a separate visit, and possibly with another physician, depending on the type of screening. Your doctor is required to tell you if the screening requires a co-pay.

The Wellness Schedule

Medicare requires physicians to provide a Wellness Schedule to patients during the Annual Wellness Visit. The Wellness Schedule is a list of all of the screenings you should have during the next five-to-10 years. These screenings can include prostate exams, mammograms and heart-related screenings. Many of these are free to the patient.

Advance Directives

While physicians are no longer required to give their patients information on Advance Directives – or Living Wills – you can discuss your wishes with your doctor and ask about the procedures you need to follow to complete an Advance Directive. Your physician should be able to provide a standard form for you to complete.

Personal Health Record

All of the information collected during your Annual Wellness Visit is compiled into one document called a Personal Health Record. You can obtain a copy of your Personal Health Record from your physician. It is a great tool to use when you have to go to the hospital, see other doctors, or visit small clinics. Since healthcare providers are not allowed to discuss your health situation with other providers, the Personal Health Record helps ensure that all of your healthcare providers have your complete health history.

It also can be very helpful to your adult children to have a copy of your Personal Health Record in the event they need to represent you at the hospital or emergency room.

Be Your Own Advocate

The Annual Wellness Visit gives you and your doctor a complete picture of your health and what you need to do to be healthier. The more you know about your health, the more likely you are to be your own advocate. So, schedule your Annual Wellness Visit, have a great conversation with your doctor and stay healthy.

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The Ultimate Guide to Medicare Annual Wellness Visits

The Medicare  Annual Wellness Visit (AWV)  is a valuable but often underutilized resource. This annual checkup, specifically designed for Medicare beneficiaries, encourages proactive health management, creates customized preventive care plans, and promotes improved quality of life for the recipients. 

Studies  have demonstrated the enormous opportunity for AWVs to facilitate healthy aging among the elderly populace and encourage participants to take advantage of preventive services and mitigate their health risks. AWVs also correlate to a significant reduction in acute hospitalizations and outpatient services, as Medicare patients average  a 5.7% reduction  in healthcare expenditures if they receive an AWV. 

However,  81% of eligible participants  fail to receive the service despite its potential to enhance overall well-being. Patients and providers are often confused about the distinction between AWVs and annual physicals. Furthermore, AWVs can be perceived as disruptive to a practice’s workflow without proper implementation. If practices cannot verify patient eligibility in real-time, they also risk providing a service that does not qualify for reimbursement. 

In this article, we delve into the vital aspects of AWVs, defining the specifics of what an AWV entails, what makes them distinct from other routine annual visits, and how to seamlessly integrate them into your practice through ChartSpan’s RapidAWV™ software. 

What is a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?

A  Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV)  is a yearly appointment where healthcare providers assess a patient’s health risks, develop personalized prevention plans, recommend screenings, and educate patients on managing their health. AWVs provide customized preventive care, detect potential health risks early on, actively engage patients in their wellness journey, and improve patients’ overall quality of life. 

First introduced in 2011 as part of the Affordable Care Act, Annual Wellness Visits are entirely covered by Medicare and scheduled every 12 months once a patient has been enrolled in Medicare Part B for over a year. 

What happens at an Annual Wellness Visit?

During an Annual Wellness Visit, physicians will review a patient’s medical history and prescription medications and document vital signs like height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure. Before the physician’s consultation, patients complete a  Health Risk Assessment (HRA) , a self-guided questionnaire that ascertains details about the patient’s health, medical history, and lifestyle. AWVs also address various factors that influence a patient’s health, like behavioral risks, cognitive ability, depression, nutrition, and  Social Determinants of Health (SDOHs) . 

Annual Wellness Visits are intentionally proactive and designed to promote positive clinical outcomes and quality of life by holistically observing a patient’s health and risk factors. Suppose a patient is living with a chronic illness like diabetes. In that case, the focus of many office visits and yearly examinations may be tied to the patient’s symptoms and concerns about their condition and medications.

The AWV should not also be devoted to discussing the patient's diabetes. The provider will review how the patient's diabetes affects their overall health and long-term clinical prospects, but they will not use the AWV to address treatment for the chronic illness specifically.

Other risk factors may go undetected during sick-care visits, leading to the patient developing additional chronic conditions that further complicate their healthcare journey. Through HRAs and AWVs, physicians can observe a patient’s unique medical history, risk factors, and lifestyle and gain a better understanding of what conditions patients may struggle with in the future. 

Physicians then craft an individualized wellness plan that mitigates health risks and emphasizes preventive action, rather than solely treating the existing symptoms and concerns. 

These preventive health plans promote optimal quality of life for the patient by avoiding injury and disease, minimizing functional decline, and eliminating any outstanding  gaps in care . 

Learn more:  Why Do So Many Providers Fail to Capture AWVs?

What is included in a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?

A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit may consist of: 

• Providing a patient with a Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
• Measuring a patient’s height, weight, BMI, blood pressure, and other relevant metrics
• Documenting a patient’s personal and family medical history 
• Reviewing a patient’s current medications, healthcare providers, vitamins, and supplements
• Evaluating a patient’s cognitive function and risk for impairments like dementia or Alzheimer’s
• Checking a patient’s functional abilities (dressing, bathing, using the bathroom, etc.) 
• Identifying risk factors, including fall risk assessments, behavioral risks like smoking, sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, and other limitations or lifestyle factors that may complicate a patient’s long-term health
• Administering a behavioral health screening for depression
• Discussing Social Determinants of Health (SDOHs) with a patient 
• Providing a patient with personalized health advice for identified risk factors, including resources for exercise, weight management, substance abuse, or smoking cessation
• Discussing  Advance Care Planning  
• Reviewing any opioid medications a patient may be taking 
• Creating a personalized schedule of health screenings and recommended tests based on a patient’s age, medical history, and unique risk factors

Some of the information obtained during an AWV may lead to additional appointments where more robust examinations occur. For example, suppose a physician notices a patient is exhibiting worrisome cognitive issues. In that case, they may schedule a follow-up appointment where they perform more thorough tests for dementia, Alzheimer’s, memory loss, and related behavioral health concerns like anxiety and depression. 

Similarly, a physician may recommend follow-up immunizations, cancer screenings, and lab tests based on information obtained through the HRA and subsequent patient dialogue. These follow-up appointments are a part of the preventive care plan presented to the patient after the AWV. The AWV does not cover these services, and this information should be clearly communicated to patients to minimize confusion.

However, AWVs can be billed concurrently with  problem visits , which is one of the most effective ways to integrate AWVs smoothly into a practice’s pre-existing workflow. When practices can efficiently combine sick visits with the administration of AWVs, they maximize revenue for the visit without sacrificing additional practice resources, demanding additional appointments from the patient, or running the risk of patients skipping the preventive care appointment. (This last point is a particular concern, as studies have shown up to  41%  of preventive care appointments result in patient no-shows.)

Learn more:  The Ultimate Annual Wellness Checklist for Providers

What is not included in an Annual Wellness Visit?

Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visits aim to develop preventive care plans rather than address pre-existing health concerns or be used for routine examinations. Therefore, AWVs do  not  include:  

• Any physical examination of the patient (beyond collecting standard metrics like weight and height) 
• Any blood work, x-rays, or lab tests 
• Treatment of chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or arthritis 
• Evaluating, diagnosing, or creating a treatment plan for any new illness or symptom
• Prescription of new medications or adjusting existing medications 
• Performing immunizations

AWVs are not intended to diagnose conditions, treat pre-existing chronic illnesses, or include a hands-on physical examination of the patient. If patients have specific concerns related to their physical health, like new or worsening symptoms, a separate appointment will be necessary to analyze and address these issues thoroughly.

If a provider administers any of these services or other diagnostic care during the appointment, patients should expect a coinsurance or copayment, as these services are explicitly not covered under Medicare’s provisions for preventive AWVs. 

Learn more about what's not covered at a Medicare AWV .

How is the AWV distinct from an Annual Physical?

While an AWV is similar to an annual physical exam and the Initial Preventive Physical Exam (IPPE), also known as the  Welcome to Medicare preventive visit , an AWV is a separate service. AWVs have unique billing codes, Medicare-determined criteria, and a distinct purpose. 

Annual Wellness Visits are focused on creating preventive health plans for patients and do not include physical examination, lab work, or immunization. An Annual Wellness Visit’s primary purpose is for the patient to complete a Health Risk Assessment and for the physician to develop or update a Personalized Prevention Plan (PPP),  according to  the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) documentation. 

An annual physical exam obtains a clear assessment of the overall state of a patient’s health, observes organ functionality, screens for common types of cancer, and keeps patients up-to-date on recommended vaccinations. Medicare does not cover annual physical exams, but they do cover 100% of AWVs for eligible participants. If a patient is treated for concerns that extend beyond the scope of an AWV, these services will be billed to a patient’s insurance, which may result in unplanned out-of-pocket costs. Patients often need to be made aware of the distinction between AWVs and annual physical exams. If patients do not understand the intention of an AWV, it can lead to confusion, frustration, and dissatisfaction. Physicians must communicate with patients about what to expect during an AWV and the intended outcomes of the appointment. 

Likewise, physicians are often unsure about what an AWV covers and what requires a distinct appointment, which may discourage them from promoting the service to their patients. The low utilization of AWVs, despite  their marked impact  on patients’ engagement with preventive services, indicates that the perceived value of AWVs may be misaligned or that practices cannot effectively integrate them into their office workflow.

Learn more:  The Difference Between Annual Physicals and Annual Wellness Visits

How to educate patients on Annual Wellness Visits

Properly educating patients on the purpose of a Medicare AWV is integral to maintaining patient satisfaction and the overall success of the preventive care plan. A patient who is not interested in preventive care is less likely to follow through on the measures proposed by their physician. A patient expecting to talk with their doctor about their chronic illness or medications may be frustrated by the appointment’s emphasis on medical history, lifestyle, and behavioral risk factors. 

Consider using outreach to inform your patients about the purpose and benefits of receiving AWVs. Your practice can distribute mailed material or electronic communication that tells patients what to expect during an AWV and how receiving AWVs can contribute to increased quality of life. These communications can be timed with holidays or patient birthdays or scheduled annually to ensure the patient gets a yearly reminder. 

Additionally, staff members can educate patients about the differences between physicals and AWVs when they come into the office for a routine visit, differentiating the services and offering to schedule the patient for their initial AWV. Combining AWVs with sick or Evaluation and Management (E/M) visits is also a strategic way to maximize the time spent with the patient and the reimbursements available for providing high-quality and thorough care. 

Who is eligible for an Annual Wellness Visit?

Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part B for over 12 months are eligible for Annual Wellness Visits. Patients cannot receive more than one AWV in a 12-month timeframe. Additionally, patients cannot receive an AWV in the same year as their initial Welcome to Medicare preventive visit (also known as an IPPE). Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) are also required to cover AWVs when a patient visits an in-network provider and meets the eligibility criteria outlined by Medicare.

Patients looking to schedule an AWV with their healthcare provider should ensure they ask for an “Annual Wellness Visit” by name when setting up the appointment. This will help clarify the intention of the appointment and ensure that Medicare fully covers the service.

Multiple healthcare practitioners, including primary care providers, certain specialty providers, and urgent care providers, can administer AWVs. Medicare will only reimburse practices for one AWV per patient per 12-month cycle, so it is crucial to access accurate patient eligibility data before administering the service. 

Some AWV software,  like ChartSpan’s RapidAWV , syncs with the HETS (HIPAA Eligibility Transaction System) database, allowing front desk personnel to check Medicare beneficiary data in real time. If they discover a patient is indeed eligible for an AWV, they can easily provide the patient with an HRA to complete within the same application. 

Learn more:  How to Identify Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries for Annual Wellness Visits

What is the reimbursement for Medicare Annual Wellness Visits?

Annual Wellness Visits offer between  $118-174 in reimbursements  per visit. The exact amount will differ based on the details of the individual AWV. The Medicare reimbursements may be increased by pairing them with other relevant preventive services, like smoking cessation consultations, advance care planning, or obesity counseling. These additional services have separate CPT billing codes that may be used with the AWV billing codes to maximize practice revenue* further. 

AWVs are an invaluable asset for any practice, as they can add a streamlined revenue channel while encouraging patients to utilize preventive resources and reduce patient healthcare expenses. 

*Results may vary by provider. 

What are the billing codes for Annual Wellness Visits?

There are three primary CPT codes used to bill AWVs to Medicare:

• G0402 (Welcome to Medicare / Initial Preventive Physical Exam):  The IPPE is a one-time, face-to-face service offered to newly enrolled patients in Medicare Part B and is a precursor to subsequent Annual Wellness Visits. This service is only offered in the initial 12-month window after a patient enrolls and will be rejected after that timeframe elapses.
• G0438 (Initial Annual Wellness Visit):  CPT code G0438 is used to bill for a patient’s first Annual Wellness Visit. If patients complete an IPPE, they are eligible for their initial AWV on the first day of the same calendar month a year later. If they do not take advantage of the IPPE, they are eligible for their first AWV twelve months after enrollment in Medicare. The reimbursement for the initial AWV is  higher than subsequent AWVs , so it is critical to correctly bill the service to ensure your practice receives maximum reimbursement for the services rendered. 
• G0439 (Subsequent Annual Wellness Visits):  This billing code is used for every AWV a patient receives after completing their IPPE and initial AWV. They will become eligible for AWVs once every 12 months. This is the only CPT billing code for AWVs that is used more than once.

Apart from the three standard billing codes, multiple codes are relevant to AWVs or often billed in tandem with AWVs. These include: 

• G0468 (FQHC IPPE or AWV) : CPT code G0469 is used by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to bill for visits that include IPPEs or AWVs as part of their bundle of services. Other practices cannot use this code. 
• 99497 (Advance Care Planning):  Advance Care Planning includes discussing and explaining advance directives if a patient becomes debilitatingly ill or otherwise unable to make medical decisions for themselves in the future. When this discussion is provided on the same day as an AWV by the same healthcare provider, it is considered preventive and covered by Medicare. It must be reported with modifier -33 and billed on the same claim as the AWV to waive co-payment. This service can be performed annually. 
• G0444 (Depression Screening):  Depression screenings are often coupled with AWVs and covered by Medicare. They can be performed annually. G0444 cannot be billed with a patient’s initial AWV (CPT code G0438).
• 99406 and 99407 (Counseling to Prevent Tobacco Use):  Medicare covers up to two smoking cessation counseling sessions per patient per year. These are often billed in conjunction with AWVs. 99406 is used for consultations that last between 3 and 10 minutes. Code 99407 is used for consultations that exceed 10 minutes in length. 
• G0442 and G0443 (Alcohol Misuse Screening & Counseling):  G0442 is a screening to detect the risk of alcohol misuse and can be performed once annually. If a patient is identified to be at risk, G0443 is used to bill the subsequent 15-minute behavioral consultation. This service can be performed up to four times per year.
• G0447 (IBT for Obesity):  Patients with a BMI that exceeds 30.0 qualify for obesity consultation services. These can be performed with IPPEs or AWVs and billed up to 22 times in 12 months, depending on the patient’s adherence to the physician’s recommendations and subsequent weight loss. 

Learn more:  CPT Billing Codes for Annual Wellness Visits       

Who can perform a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?

Any of the following practitioners can  perform  Annual Wellness Visits:

• A physician (doctor of medicine or osteopathy)
• A qualified, non-physician practitioner, including a physician assistant (PA), a nurse practitioner (NP), or a certified clinical nurse specialist (CCNS)
• A medical professional like a registered dietitian, nutrition professional, or health educator, or a team of medical professionals directly supervised by a physician or another licensed healthcare practitioner

It is integral to remember that AWVs can be performed and billed by practices other than primary care facilities. Specialists like cardiologists or neurologists may also submit claims for AWV reimbursement. CMS has intentionally sought to  reduce barriers  to administering AWVs and HRAs to facilitate greater use and easier workflow implementation. 

However, without eligibility verification, this can lead to multiple practices attempting to bill Medicare for the same service and risks patients receiving poorly optimized, duplicated care. Medicare will only reimburse one AWV per patient within a 12-month timeframe. This is why checking patient eligibility in real-time is crucial before practice resources and patient time are devoted to redundant and non-reimbursable services.   

Implement AWVs into your workflow easily with ChartSpan’s RapidAWV™ software

The challenge:  Only  19%  of eligible Medicare patients receive AWVs. When properly implemented into a practice’s workflow, AWVs have the dual benefit of creating an additional revenue stream and facilitating positive patient clinical outcomes by encouraging targeted preventive care. However, many physicians view AWVs as overly time-consuming, staff may struggle to confirm patient eligibility, and many patients do not see the value in an appointment that does not address their current conditions, medications, and physical health. 

Our solution:  ChartSpan’s proprietary RapidAWV™ software  provides healthcare providers with an innovative solution to maximize revenue while significantly minimizing the time and resources required to implement AWVs. 

Real-time eligibility checks

When patients arrive for their scheduled sick visit, clinical staff can use the RapidAWV™ program to check their AWV eligibility via CMS’s HETS database in real time. If the patient is determined eligible for an AWV, your clinical staff can provide an HRA for the patient to complete on a desktop, tablet, or mobile device. These customizable, senior-friendly questionnaires are iOS and Android compatible and  optimized  for access across any device and screen size. 

Accessible and customizable HRAs

The patient can complete their HRA from the comfort of your practice’s waiting room while they await their regularly scheduled appointment, seamlessly integrating the AWV into their pre-existing appointment without causing any disruption to standard  practice workflow . 

These HRAs can be customized by the practice to include questions about medical history, lifestyle, risk factors, and whatever additional information you wish to gather. Upon completion, the software will then deliver a comprehensive, robust report to the attending physician, outlining risk factors and recommended screenings and flagging pertinent factors like nutrition, tobacco use, medication adherence, and vaccinations. 

Personalized preventive care plans

By analyzing the data provided by patients, ChartSpan’s AWV software generates 5- to 10-year preventive care plans with actionable goals, deliberate interventions, and timely follow-ups. It also gives patients clear summaries of their health risks and preventive care plans. 

This automated, data-driven AWV technology dramatically reduces the time required to administer an AWV. This ensures an AWV can be neatly combined with the scheduled appointment yet still deliver a tailor-made preventive care program for the individual patient. 

Partner with ChartSpan to maximize AWVs

With the ease of ChartSpan’s RapidAWV™ software, physicians at your practice can incorporate AWVs into any previously scheduled patient sick visit. Any inconvenience to the patient is minimized by attaching the AWV to a pre-existing appointment, encouraging higher participation. 

Our software checks eligibility instantly, eliminating the risk of your practice providing a non-reimbursable service. Furthermore, the software collects, analyzes, and synthesizes the information provided by the patient into an actionable preventive care plan unique to them, allowing you to maximize every appointment and elevate the quality and scope of care your practice provides. 

To ensure your team’s success with RapidAWV™, ChartSpan provides comprehensive onsite or remote training in our software and a dedicated Client Success Director to help your AWV enterprise flourish. 

Contact us  to learn how ChartSpan can elevate your practice’s care delivery and operational excellence with our industry-leading AWV software.     

You may also like: 

• Top 10 Chronic Disease Risk Factors
• 5 Examples of Patient-Centered Care
• A Healthcare Provider’s Guide to Value-Based Care

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Annual Wellness Visit

What is the medicare annual wellness visit (awv).

The Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) allows practices to gain information about the patient, including medical and family history, health risks, and specific vitals. Not to be confused with a complete physical examination, the purpose of the AWV is to review the patient’s wellness and develop a personalized prevention plan. The services provided during the AWV are different from a typical preventive care visit and expand to include emotional and psychological well-being, in addition to the patient’s physical well-being. The AWV provides an opportunity for physicians to improve the quality of care, assist in patient engagement, and optimize payment opportunities.

Take Action

Optimize revenue and improve patient outcomes with Medicare's Annual Wellness Visits. These visits help you identify care gaps, increase revenue, and prepare your practice for value-based care.

The two CPT codes used to report AWV services are:

• G0438 initial visit
• G0439 subsequent visit

Requirements and Components for AWV

Requirements and components for G0438 (initial visit) include:

• Patient is eligible after the first 12 months of Medicare coverage.
• For services within the first 12 months, conduct the Initial Preventive Physical Exam (IPPE), also referred to as the Welcome to Medicare Visit (G0402).
• The patient must not have received an IPPE within the past 12 months.
• Administer a Health Risk Assessment (HRA) that includes, at a minimum: demographic data, self-assessment of health status, psychosocial and behavioral risks, and activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental ADLs including but not limited to shopping, housekeeping, managing own medications, and handling finances.
• Establish the patient’s medical and family history.
• Establish a list of current physicians and providers that are regularly involved in the medical care of the patient.
• Obtain blood pressure, height, weight, body mass index or waist circumference, and other measurements, as deemed appropriate.
• Assess patient’s cognitive function.
• Review risk factors for depression, including current or past experiences with depression or mood disorders.
• Review patient’s functional ability and safety based on direct observation, or the use of appropriate screening questions.
• Establish a written screening schedule for the individual, such as a checklist for the next 5 to 10 years based on appropriate recommendations.
• Establish a list of risk factors and conditions for primary, secondary, or tertiary intervention.
• Provide personalized health advice to the patient, as appropriate, including referrals to health education or preventive counseling services and programs.
• At the patient's discretion, furnish advance care planning services.

Requirements and provisions for G0439 (subsequent visit) include:

• Billable for subsequent AWV.
• The patient cannot have had a prior AWV in the past 12 months.
• Update the HRA.
• Update the patient’s medical and family history.
• Update the current physicians and providers that are regularly involved in providing the medical care to the patient, as developed during the initial AWV.
• Obtain blood pressure, weight (or waist circumference, if appropriate), and other measurements, as deemed appropriate.
• Update the written screening schedule checklist established in the initial AWV.
• Update the list of risk factors and conditions for which primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions are recommended or underway.
• At the patient's discretion, the subsequent AWV may also include advance care planning services.

Health Care Professionals Who May Furnish and Bill AWV:

• Physician assistant (PA)
• Nurse practitioner (NP)
• Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
• Medical professional (including a health educator, registered dietician or nutrition professional, or other licensed practitioner) or a team of medical professionals working under the direct supervision of a physician.)

Non-physicians must legally be authorized and qualified to provide AWVs in the state in which the services are furnished.

Talk to Your Medicare Patients about AWV

Better patient care starts with preventive wellness visits. Download the AAFP’s patient flier and use it to talk with your Medicare patients about the importance of scheduling a free, personalized prevention visit with you.

• Download the patient flyer »(1 page PDF)
• Download the patient letter »(1 page PDF)

Step-by-Step Approach to Adding Annual Wellness Visits to Your Practice

The Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) can be added to your small practice with existing staff and minimal impact to your operations. The AWV identifies care gaps and preventive services, increases revenue, and prepares your practice for value-based payment.

Read more about AWVs in the Making Sense of MACRA: Annual Wellness Visit supplement »

The AAFP’s Position on AWVs

The AAFP supports this preventive coverage as it provides an opportunity to deliver, document, and bill for the service. Implementing the service allows physicians to invest in patient-centered, team-based care while promoting quality and cost-effective care.

What You Need to Know

It is important to remember that code G0438 is for the first AWV only. The submission of G0438 for a beneficiary for which a claim code of G0438 has already been paid will result in a denial. This benefit is covered at 100% for the beneficiary.

Approaches to Help Your Practice Get Started

• AWV can be provided to all Medicare Part B patients.
• Use this service to identify patients who would benefit from a discussion regarding their self-management goals.
• Choose patients the staff has identified as highest risk (i.e., staff are concerned that the patient is unstable or may be more likely to need additional services or have recently been to the ER).
• Use this service to risk stratify your patient population.
• Use this service to document diagnoses and conditions to accurately reflect patient severity of illness (hierarchical condition category [HCC] coding) and risk of high-cost care. 

Copyright © 2024 American Academy of Family Physicians. All Rights Reserved.

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NBC Select Wellness Awards 2024: The best fitness, sleep and self care products

At NBC Select, we do the research so that you can be selective. So, with our second-ever NBC Select Wellness Awards , we spent months meticulously testing hundreds of products to find the best across multiple categories, including skin care, dental, sleep and fitness. After many months of testing, our editors chose over 60 products deserving of our Best of Wellness Awards stamp of approval.

Shop our complete list of Wellness winners below, many of which are available on Amazon and other retailers. 

SKIP AHEAD: Sleep | Fitness tech and equipment | Fitness apparel | Self care | How we chose our winners

NBC Select Best of Wellness sleep winners

Hatch restore 2 alarm clock  .

Hatch Restore 2 Alarm Clock

Award : Best alarm clock

The Hatch Restore 2 Alarm Clock is truly an all-in-one product when it comes to everything sleep and relaxation . It’s a clock at its foundation, but it does so much more. Once the app is completely set up, you’ll see that there is a wide range of resources, all meant to help you relax, such as podcast episodes on topics like pop culture and history, many different types of acoustic music, different light shades, alarm scheduling and relaxing environmental sounds like rain or a campfire.

“I love that the Hatch Restore 2 Alarm Clock looks incredibly modern in addition to being extremely resourceful,” says NBC Select commerce editor Cory Fernandez . “It’s great being able to wake up to a relaxing sound or calming noise rather than the more harsh sounds I’m used to.”

Pure Enrichment Wave Mini Zen  

Pure Enrichment Wave Mini Zen

Award : Best sound machine

If you have a lot of difficulty relaxing before bed, a sound machine can make it a much easier task. The small but powerful Pure Enrichment Wave Mini Zen sound machine is easy to use, especially when you’re tired at the end of a long day. The machine has six relaxing sounds including a piano, flowing water, meditation music and rain.

“One of my favorite aspects about the Wave Mini Zen Sound Machine is that it actually gets pretty loud thanks to the 10-level volume setting,” says Fernandez . “It’s also easy to take with you anywhere and charges quickly.” 

Slip Silk Eye Mask

Award : Best sleep mask

The Slip Silk Eye Mask is a sleep mask that’s as luxurious as it is functional. The cozy silk material is gentle on the face while also helping you relax and get some shut-eye.

Plus, the mask maintains its quality even after multiple uses and rounds in the wash. “[This] held up pretty well after I washed and dried even though you’re supposed to hand wash,” says NBC Select managing editor Leah Ginsberg, who prefers when a product doesn’t have to be hand washed.

Bearaby Weighted Eye Mask (wait list available)

Bearaby Weighted Eye Mask

Available on waitlist

Award : Best sleep mask | Type : Weighted

Bearaby’s Weighted Eye Mask is made from a soft woven fabric filled with a biodegradable clay. The mask places just the right amount of weight on the eyes to help relieve tension, according to the brand, but is also gentle so as to not cause strain or irritation.

The mask also helps block out sound, too. “[The mask] is very effective at blocking out light and even some sound and it definitely puts weight on the face, which I did find helped with tension,” says Ginsberg.

Dagsmejan Blackout Eye Mask  

Dagsmejan Blackout Eye Mask

Award : Best sleep mask | Type : Contoured

The Dagsmejan Blackout Eye Mask is ideal for those who are looking for more uninterrupted sleep but are also somewhat sensitive to any form of light. Plus, the mask has adjustable eye cups, so that you can make sure the mask is perfectly comfortable.

“It’s very adjustable which is a real benefit over some of the elastic options. [Plus, it’s] really effective at blocking the light,” says NBC Select editorial assistant Ari Night. 

Award : Best earplugs | Type : Sleep

These washable silicone earbuds were a 2023 Best of Wellness Award winner and we still are big fans. They reduce noise by up to 26 decibels, according to the brand. "My husband is a terrible sleeper, especially when the radiator is clanking or sirens are blaring," says NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson. "These helped him actually sleep through the night which has been huge."

Improved from 2023 is the case: it is a little larger, but has slots to rest the earbuds, similar to a wireless earbud charging case.

NBC Select Best of Wellness fitness tech and equipment winners

Lululemon the mat 5mm.

Award : Best yoga mat

This Lululemon  yoga mat  is an updated version of the brand’s original 5-millimeter yoga mat, which won an  NBC Select  Best of Wellness award in 2023. The new version is sustainably sourced and made from FSC-certified natural rubber, and it still outperforms other yoga mats we tried thanks to its thick, non-slip material and moisture-wicking top layer, which prevents slipping and sliding during your workout. Plus, it’s reversible, so you can flip between a smooth, grippy side and a cushioned rubber side, and comes in five colors and patterns, “so it’s much nicer to look at when you’re staring down during a plank or other poses in class,” says NBC Select manager of editorial operations Shari Uyehara.

The mat is also easy to take on the go: “I find that it rolls up easily, and it’s one of the only mats I’ve tried that lays completely flat when I unroll it,” says NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio. “The edges don’t curl up at all, so I don’t have to worry about tripping or having to flatten them down with a heavier object like a water bottle.”

Bala The Play Mat

Award : Best yoga mat | Type : Hot yoga

With its 5mm thickness and moisture-wicking, non-slip natural rubber top layer, Bala’s The Play Mat is cushion-y for yoga, pilates and aerobic exercises. Its rounded top also makes it easy to roll and take on the go, according to our reviewers. 

“This yoga mat is incredibly slip-resistant. When I’m doing heated and non-heated exercises, I can ground my feet and hands into it very well,” says NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin, who used it during four hot yoga classes. “The bottom of the mat is textured and almost looks scratchy, and that helped it adhere to the wood floors in my apartment as well as the rubber floors in my yoga studio,” she says.

NordicTrack Select-A-Weight Dumbbells

Award: Best weights | Type : Adjustable

These weights are pricey, but they're basically many in one. Because they're adjustable, you don't need multiple sets of free weights, which our tight-on-apartment-space editors loved. They also loved how comfortable the handle was to hold, which was an important feature.

Nike Kettlebell

Award: Best weights | Type : Kettlebell

During our in-office weight testing, the Nike Kettlebell stood out for its comfortable handle and weight range. Our editors also loved the material, which made reps feel lighter on our hands.

Amazon Basics Easy Grip Workout Dumbbell

Award: Best weights | Type : Static

These are a popular pair of dumbbells, and for good reason: they get the job done. Our editors loved the price point and also how the material was cushion-y in our hands during testing. Not to mention, we were also very picky about weights being stinky and these had no noticeable odor.

Bala Bangles

Award: Best weights | Type : Ankle

The Bala Bangles won a 2023 Best of Wellness Award and we still love them. They are adjustable and can be worn either as wrist or ankle weights.

"I can wear these all day without them being uncomfortable," says Swanson. "They're also stylish and easy-to-clean."

Fit Simplify Resistance Loop Exercise Bands

Award : Best resistance bands

Resistance bands are a great tool to improve workouts and overall strength, and these bands are our top pick to get the most out of your strength training sessions. These exercise bands can help give you a full-body workout; they come in five different resistance levels and are tear-resistant even after extensive use. They also come with a carrying pouch so that you can easily store and transport them.

“I absolutely love these resistance bands,” says Godio, who used the bands for leg and arm resistance workouts like leg raises and band rows. “They’re super stretchy — much more than any other resistance band I’ve tried — so I can better customize my workout.”

Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Bottle

Award: Best water bottle

The Hydro Flask Wide Mouth bottle was a Best of Wellness Award winner in 2023 and it was also ranked as one of our best reusable water bottles . “I love the water bottle because it’s durable, holds a lot of water and is easy to carry. I take it to the gym with me and to workout classes and use it around the house,” says Uyehara.

“I’ve been using the hydroflask for only two weeks but it’s already become one of the best water bottles I’ve tried,” says Rebecca Rodriguez, editorial projects manager. Rodriguez has tried over 15 different bottles but says the Hydro Flask manages to keep water cold all day.  “I’ll add ice in it before bed and wake up to still find most of it there,” says Rodriguez. She also loves how easy the bottle is to clean and the mouth spout, which helps prevent water from spilling out of the bottle. 

Brumate Rotera

Award: Best water bottle | Type: Everyday

The Brumate Rotera was voted our best everyday water bottle thanks to its unique leak-proof design and its ability to keep water cool. The twist-to-sip straw means you can drink your water easily without worrying about spills. It also has a durable silicone sleeve that can help prevent any damage to the bottle. 

Multiple writers and editors mentioned how easy the Brumate was to clean. “It’s easy to wash and the opening was large enough that I was able to really get in there. It’s also dishwasher safe so when I’m too lazy to hand wash, being able to pop it in there is amazing and convenient,” says Bianca Alvarez, NBC Select associate reporter. The stainless steel straw was also a major bonus, according to Malin, who says that stainless steel straw doesn’t hold on to flavors or odors and keeps beverages cool.

Peloton Fitness App

Peloton Fitness

Award: Best fitness app

You can practically turn any space into a gym with the Peloton fitness app , which offers annual and monthly memberships. Once you join, you get access to thousands of on-demand workout classes like strength training, yoga, pilates, HIIT, running and stretching. Our testers found the Peloton app easy to navigate and appreciated the ability to log personal data, plus share workout progress with friends.

“I love how customizable it is depending on where you are and what’s available to you in terms of space, time and equipment,” says Vivian Le, NBC commerce photo editor. “The trainers are full of personality, too.”

Roll Recovery Foam Roller

Award: Best foam roller | Type : Overall

The Roll Recovery Foam roller has a unique design, which almost resembles a drum. The grooves are tough and sturdy, which is good because a foam roller should help relieve muscle tension and soreness after a workout or sitting for long hours. They can also be used before a workout to help break up adhesions, increase circulation and lengthen your muscles, warming them up for activity.

“My boyfriend has sciatica, and this foam roller did a really good job of helping them stretch out and align their lower back,” says Night. “The differences, specifically in pain relief after, were pretty noticeable.”

Therabody Theragun Sense  

Therabody Theragun Sense

Award: Best massage gun | Type: Overall

The Theragun Sense has five speeds and different head options that can help you feel more at ease after a workout. “You can select different workout types that focus on lower back pain, sleep or stress relief,” says Jordan Bowman, NBC Select editor. He also liked the ergonomic design, which made it easy to hit spots around his lower back or shoulder muscles. “The speed options were great and there was a distinctive difference between each option,” says Bowman.

Therabody Theragun Pro Plus  

Therabody Theragun Pro Plus

Award: Best massage gun | Type: Splurge

The Theragun Pro Plus is the perfect massage gun for frequent users. Multiple editors noted how easy it was to adjust speed levels and pressure. It also has multiple head attachments which work alongside the heated therapy attachment.

“I suffer from migraines and back pain, and playing with temperature has been really helpful for me when my symptoms are out of control,” says NBC Select SEO editor, Nikki Brown. “It’s expensive but if you’re someone who considers a massage gun a very important part of your routine and wellbeing, this is worth the investment.”

Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones

Sony WH-1000XM5

Award : Best headphones | Type : Over-ear

These are some of our favorite over-ear headphones because they are supremely comfortable, have excellent noise canceling and sound crisp and clear in all situations.

They get up to 30 hours of battery life, and have fast charging with USB-C.

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

Award : Best headphones | Type : Open-ear

These open-ear headphones are part earbud, part ear cuff. They wrap around the side of your outer ear, leaving your ear canal open to hear the world around you. Most open-ear headphones are marketed for outdoor fitness activities like running or cycling, where being able to hear nearby cars and pedestrians can be safer than using noise-canceling headphones .

“I’ve tested dozens of wireless and fitness headphones: these are the most comfortable, by far,” says NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz. “They were incredibly stable on my ear and never jostled out of place during runs or bike rides.” The ear cuff design means they never get in the way of apparel like sunglasses, hats or helmets, says Rabinowitz. You can learn more about these headphones in our full Bose Ultra Open Earbuds review .

Jabra Elite 8 Active

Award : Best headphones | Type : Noise-canceling   

A 2023 NBC Select Giftable Tech winner and one of our favorite workout headphones , the Jabra Elite 8 Active are small enough to fit in your pocket but versatile enough for any activity. The earbuds have noise-canceling and hear-through modes, up to 32 hours of battery life (between the case and the buds), and are IP68 dust-tight and waterproof.

“They sit snug and comfortable in my ears on my commute, at the gym, running outdoors, anywhere,” says Rabinowitz. “They can handle anything I throw at them, and I don’t have to baby them as much as other tech I own.”

Apple Watch Series 9

Award : Best fitness tracker | Operation System : Apple

The Apple Watch remains one of the best fitness trackers for iPhone users, and the Series 9 adds a few new features that wow-d us. One new gesture, called Double Tap, lets you answer calls, open notifications, control music and stop timers by pinching your index and thumb together. “It’s incredibly useful for starting or stopping an outdoor walk or run while you are wearing gloves,” says Rabinowitz.

The watch is comfortable, easy to use, and great for fitness, with robust data tracking and stats, especially for outdoor running and cycling. You can learn more in our full Apple Watch Series 9 review .

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Award : Best fitness tracker | Operation System : Android

The Galaxy Watch 6 is a smartwatch for Android users that can do a little bit of everything. It syncs with your phone and mirrors all your notifications, plus tracks workout and health data through Samsung Health and Samsung Wearable apps. All the data is detailed and colorful, says Rabinowitz, and the apps are fun to scroll through and learn from.

“It’s one of the sleekest smartwatches I’ve tried,” says Rabinowitz. “The flat screen, soft-touch watch band and colorful display make it easy to dress up or down in any situation.”

Fitbit Charge 6

Award : Best fitness tracker

This fitness tracker is small, lightweight and compatible with iPhone and Android phones. It tracks all your major health and wellness data, and gives more granular information on fitness activities like walking and running.

You can learn more in our full Fitbit Charge 6 review .

select Select Best of Wellness Awards 2024

Nbc select best of wellness fitness apparel winners, workout shoes, brooks hyperion elite 4.

Award : Best workout shoes | Activity : Running

Whether you’re training for a 5K or marathon, or just looking to improve your speed during casual everyday runs, Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 is a reliable model our testers prize for its lightweight feel and maximum cushioning. 

“This shoe made me want to run more often because I felt like I had a pep in my step that kept pushing me forward,” says Alvarez. That propulsion feeling she describes is thanks to the shoe’s carbon fiber plate, which is built into the midsole. The men’s and women’s running sneaker also offers great neutral arch support thanks to supportive foam, says Fernandez. His feet never felt pained or strained while walking and running in the shoe.

Nike Motiva Walking Shoe

Award : Best workout shoes | Activity : Walking

“The Nike Motiva is not only the most comfortable walking shoe I’ve tried, but also the most stylish,” says Rodriguez. “It has really great arch support and padding so my feet feel like they’re walking on clouds.”

Brown says she was able to run errands in the sneaker for hours without her flat feet feeling tired, and she appreciates the bouncy foam. “It almost felt like I was walking on mini trampolines or bed springs,” she says. The sneaker has a patterned, rocker-shaped outsole that helps it absorb shock while you’re walking and propel you forward.

Brooks Glycerin Stealth Fit

Brooks Glycerin Stealthfit

Award: Best workout shoes | Activity: All | Sizing: Women’s

Instead of a movable tongue, Brooks Glycerin Stealth Fit sneaker has a slip-on sock-like upper, allowing you to throw them on quickly without even needing to retie their laces.

“These were the shoes I reached for the most, which is saying something because I’m not usually a fan of a slip-on style,” says Godio. “They’re incredibly supportive and fit my feet like a glove.”

The shoe’s toe box is wide enough that Brown could comfortably spread her toes while wearing them, making her stride feel strong. She also says the sneaker has plush yet firm cushioning, which grounds her on runs and walks, plus supports her arches.

On Running Cloud x3

Award: Best workout shoe | Activity: All | Sizing: Men’s

“I had what you could best describe as a Cinderella moment when lacing these up for the first time,” says Bowman. “I found that the design of the shoe was so comfortable that it made the cushioning feel more impactful, and the sense of stability is immediately noticeable.”

The sneaker has a molded heel cap and a wide platform to support the feet, as well as a star-shaped lace pattern that wraps around the top of the feet and holds them in place. Its upper is made with three layers of mesh fabric, which Bowman finds breathable and temperature regulating. “It kept my feet dry during rainy days and they stayed warm in the cold,” he says. 

Quince Ultra-Form High-Rise Pocket Leggings

Quince Ultra-Form High-Rise Pocket Legging

Award : Best leggings | Activity : All

These high-rise leggings are stretchy, quick drying and moisture-wicking, making them great for both all-day wear and low-impact workouts, according to our editors. The leggings also have a hidden back waistband pocket to fit smaller items like credit cards and keys, as well as a side pocket to store your phone while you’re on the move.

“The fit is very flattering — there’s not as much tummy control as some of the other leggings I tried, but it still creates a good silhouette,” says NBC Select social commerce editor Sadhana Daruvuri. “These are definitely lounging leggings that you can sit around in for hours.”

Reebok Lux High Rise Legging

Award : Best leggings | Activity : Running

Reebok’s leggings have a tight, compressive fit and a moisture-wicking fabric that makes them great for running or high-intensity exercises. Plus, its wide waistband helps create a flattering and secure fit, our testers say. “The band is thick and high-waisted, so it’s comfortable and sucks in my stomach, and it never slips down even during higher intensity workouts,” says Godio.

“These were very comfortable to move around in. They didn’t roll down while I was running or doing any activity,” says NBC Page Hannah Fuechtman. “Out of all the leggings I tried, these were the ones that stayed in place the most and felt the most durable,” she says.

Vuori Daily Legging

Award : Best leggings | Type : Everyday

These high-rise Vuori leggings have a joggers-style silhouette, complete with a drawstring to adjust the fit and ⅞-inch inseam. They’re buttery soft, stretchy and flexible, which makes them great for lounging, walking, yoga, pilates and barre. 

“I can move so freely in these leggings no matter what I’m doing, and they’re compressive enough to make me feel supported while running and lifting weights,” says Malin. “I look forward to wearing them while working out because they’re so reliable, and I want to wear them as athleisure too,” she says.

Spanx Booty Boost Active 7/8 Leggings

Award : Best leggings | Type : Compressive

Spanx’s leggings are the most shaping and compressive ones we tried, while also being comfortable, moisture-wicking and breathable.

“It’s so compressive that I honestly had a hard time putting them on the first time. But after moving around in the leggings for a few minutes, they loosen up,” says Malin, who likes compressive leggings for high impact activities like running. “I loved these [leggings] because I could put them on and not think about them or constantly adjust them while working out,” she says. They also have a hidden waistband pocket that fits a phone, wallet or keys. 

Target Women’s Light Support V-Neck Crop Sports Bra

Award : Best sports bra | Activity: All

This soft v-neck light support bra doubles as a cropped top and has UPF 50+ sun protection. It’s made for everyday wear and comes in a variety of colorways, including black, cream and espresso . It’s available in sizes XXS to 4X and has a built-in bra for added support.

Fuechtman appreciates that she can wear this bra to perform a variety of activities, from low impact workouts to running. “It’s super comfortable all around and super supportive,” Fuechtman says. “I also love how it is a tank top that I can comfortably work out in without stares. I really recommend this one.”

SheFit Ultimate Sports Bra

Award : Best sports bra | Sizing : Larger busts

This adjustable sports bra is designed to fit all cup sizes. It’s built with wire-free seamed cups and wide adjustable shoulder and back straps that provide adequate support for high impact workouts. Available in multiple colorways, including wine red and lavender , it also has a zipper to help prevent chafing. NBC Select senior social media editor Rosalie Sparaco, who is larger chested, compared the bra to armor and likes how every part of the bra is adjustable. Malin says this sports bra checks all her boxes in terms of style and coverage.

“It’s clearly designed for function first, which I appreciate. It doesn’t compromise function for style with any of the features,” Malin says. “If you have a larger chest and/or want no bounce, this is the kind of material that helps you achieve that.”

“I’ve never seen a bra like that before,” Sparaco says. “It’s great. I’m a sweaty, sweaty lady, especially under my chest and this bra didn’t make it feel worse, which is what I look for.”

Brooks 3-Pocket Sports Bra

Award : Best sports bra | Activity : Running

This high-coverage compressive sports bra is great for running and keeping cool; it has removable cups and a wide, supportive back band below the additional pocket specifically made for storing your phone, which is unlike anything NBC Select production coordinator Kelsey Fredricks has worn before. “This bra fits me so well and holds me in place. I feel very comfortable wearing this and it’s become my go-to running bra,” Fredricks, who is larger chested, says. “It’s incredibly bounce-free and perfect for any high intensity workout.”

This bra is also Malin’s top pick for high-impact workouts, including hot yoga, dance cardio classes and running. “The high neckline offers so much coverage, and it eliminates bounce along with the compressive fabric,” Malin says. “The straps lay flat against my skin and there are no pieces that dig in or cause chafing . Overall, I was very comfortable while wearing the bra.”

Girlfriend Collective Tommy Cropped Bra

Award : Best sports bra | Activity : Low impact

Girlfriend Collective’s cropped built-in support bra is a great fit for various low to medium activities, from walking on a folding treadmill to biking and more. This bra has a square neckline and low square back design and comes in multiple colorways, including moss and ivory. Godio finds the bra’s scoop neck “super flattering” and appreciates that it doesn’t shift upward or squeeze her skin during workouts.

“The length of the bra is great and it has a very thick material, so it feels durable and never slipped off of my shoulders or felt uncomfortable throughout the workout,” Godio says.

Bombas All-Purpose Performance Ankle Socks

Bombas Women's All-Purpose Performance Ankle Socks

Award: Best socks

“Once you go Bombas, you never go back,” says Malin. “They reliably cushion my feet regardless of what shoe I’m wearing or what type of activity I’m doing, so I can throw them on without thinking.”

The socks are available in men’s and women’s sizes, and they’re made from a blend of polyester, nylon, cotton and elastane, materials that create a breathable and sweat-wicking feel, according to our testers.

“The ankle length is long enough so the socks never slip off and down my heel, and their quality never changes after I wash them,” says Godio. “I have several pairs that I rotate through during the week, and I have a hard time using other brands’ socks because I’m a Bombas fan for life.”

Feetures Graduated Compression Light Cushion Knee High Socks

Feetures Graduated Compression Socks

Award : Best socks | Type : Compression

Some compression socks are so tight that they’re challenging to put on and take off, but not these, says Rabinowitz. The knee-high socks come in men’s and women’s sizes, and they offer 15 to 20 mmHg of compression at the ankle, which is a moderate amount of pressure, according to experts . They’re also lightly cushioned, made from nylon and spandex, and labeled “right” or “left” to fit specific feet.

“I have really poor circulation and actually felt like I was having better blood flow from my legs when wearing these,” says Rodriguez. “I wore these on a four-hour flight to Puerto Rico and they didn’t bother me once.”

Doublesoul Quarter Grip Sock

Award : Best socks | Type : Grippy

Grippy socks are an essential part of any outfit if you’re doing a barre or Pilates class, especially if you’re using a Pilates reformer. Our testers like Doublesoul’s Quarter Grip Socks best because they hit a few inches above the ankles, which helps keep them in place while exercising. “I felt like I could root my feet into place on the reformer while wearing these socks during Pilates, so I never worried about slipping,” says Malin. “The material is cushioned and soft against my skin, and it never made my feet hot. The grippy bottoms didn’t not lose their stick when I washed them multiple times, which I’m impressed by.” You can buy these grippy socks in four sizes — they fit men’s and women’s feet.

NBC Select Best of Wellness self care winners

Dental care, colgate total plaque pro-release toothpaste   .

Colgate Total Plaque Pro-Release Toothpaste

Award : Best toothpaste

Malin says that this toothpaste leaves her “feeling the most clean” after her morning and evening brushing. She likes that “the paste turns into a thicker lather as she brushes”, which makes the small dot of toothpaste that she uses go a long way.

It’s designed to fight cavities and gingivitis, while also reducing plaque buildup and bad breath. After two weeks of daily brushing, it provides 24 hours of antibacterial protection for your smile, according to the brand. It’s also gluten- and sugar-free.

Pronamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste  

Pronamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste

Award : Best toothpaste | Type : Sensitivity

Pronamel's Gentle Whitening toothpaste provides the cavity protection and fresh breath that most toothpastes are formulated to give, while also providing relief to brushers with sensitive teeth. Fredricks says that the toothpaste “visibly whitened her teeth after just one use and left [her] mouth feeling clean and refreshed”. 

The toothpaste also specifically targets the protection of your tooth enamel against acid erosion, which can wear away your teeth over time. After using the toothpaste, Bowman says that his teeth “felt less sensitive to cold drinks especially”.

Waterpik Sensonic Electric Toothbrush  

Waterpik Sensonic Electric Toothbrush

Award : Best toothbrush | Type : Electric

This electric toothbrush has soft bristles and three brushing modes — clean, stain removal and gum care.  It has an ergonomic handle that helps to reduce any slipping while brushing, and is designed to be lightweight and quiet while brushing, according to the brand. You can time your brushes using the built-in two minute timer, which also has a 30-second pacer. It also comes with a toothbrush travel case, which Night loves for easy transport.

Colgate Extra Clean Toothbrush

Colgate Extra Clean Toothbrush - 6 Pack

Award : Best toothbrush | Type : Manual

This 2023 Wellness Award winner held its spot for 2024 by continuing to cover all of the bases for a manual toothbrush. It has a textured handle for better grip, and is available in soft, medium or firm bristle firmness. It’s designed to properly clean hard-to-reach areas of the mouth, which Swanson confirms — she says that she feels she’s able to  “really get those far back spots” when she uses this while brushing. 

Oral B io Series 10 Electric Toothbrush

Award : Best toothbrush | Price : Splurge

Ginsberg, who’s never been a fan of electric toothbrushes, loves this toothbrush for its extensive custom settings and features. It has seven smart cleaning modes, along with a pressure sensor that indicates when you’re brushing too hard.

The brush also comes with a number of accessories, including four replacement brush heads, a smart charging stand and a charging travel case. It can be paired with the free Oral-B app for personalized brushing feedback and dental goal-setting.

Marvis Mouthwash

Award : Best mouthwash

This mint-flavored mouthwash from Marvis kills germs and bacteria, and after she uses it, Fuechtman , says her teeth feel squeaky clean. It’s a mouthwash concentrate, so you can water it down to make it however strong you prefer — Fuechtman appreciates this since she finds the taste of most mouthwashes overwhelming.

Marvis’ mouthwash comes in a decorative glass bottle that gives it an elevated look, so Fuechtman doesn’t mind leaving it out in her bathroom.

Cocofloss Floss

Award : Best floss | Category : Standard

This floss is infused with antimicrobial coconut oil to soothe gums and made with vegan wax for extra slip. Bowman says that because the CocoFloss is thicker than a typical plastic floss, it was able to scrape out plaque and food very easily. It comes in 15 flavors, including Delicious Mint, Pure Strawberry and Unscented. 

“Another thing I loved about the CocoFloss was the gentleness of the fibers unlike normal plastic floss which can scrape against your gums,” Bowman says.

Flaus Electric Flosser

Award : Best floss | Category : Electric

This waterproof electric flosser from Flaus uses sonic vibrations to remove plaque and debris between tight teeth. It has a soft-touch handle that is long enough to easily reach the teeth in the back of the mouth, according to Daruvuri. It has three modes of intensity to choose from depending on your flossing needs and comes with 45 mint floss heads.

Quip Flosser

Quip Refillable Floss Pick

Award : Best floss | Category : Floss pick

This refillable floss pick from Quip comes with a compact, mirrored dispensing case that contains the equivalent of 180 disposable picks per refill. Simply press a button to clamp onto the floss in the dispenser, and push down  the top of the floss pick to cut and remove the floss. 

“I have used disposable floss picks for years, as I prefer them over typical string floss, but now I will never go back to them again,” says Fuechtman. “From a sustainability perspective, the Quip Refillable Floss Pick helps save 3 months worth of floss picks, and it has a super user-friendly design.”

Harry’s Body Wash

Award : Best body wash | Skin type : All

This citrus-scented body wash cleanses your skin while also leaving it feeling soft and hydrated.

While it’s free of common irritants like artificial dyes, our Best of Wellness winner smells like bergamot and yuzu with hints of charcoal. “It wasn’t overpowering or too aggressive, just enough of a scent to feel good after my shower,” says Bowman. The body wash is available in five additional scents.

Aveeno Oat Body Wash

Award : Best body | Skin type : Sensitive

Aveeno’s Daily Body Wash creamy formula includes ingredients like glycerin and prebiotic oats to gently cleanse and maintain your skin’s moisture barrier, leaving it feeling hydrated, smooth and soft post-shower, according to the brand. Formulated without sulfates, dyes, parabens, and soaps, this option is suitable for all skin types, especially dry and sensitive skin . 

“I love that it feels like I’m almost applying a moisturizer due to its thick consistency, so it feels great on my dry, sensitive skin, especially in the winter,” says Godio. “It cleansed my skin without feeling heavy or drying and I also love how easy it is to lather, so I don’t have to use too much product.”

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser  

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Award : Best face cleanser | Skin type : Dry

This creamy, unscented cleanser gently removes dirt, impurities, and makeup while providing hydration with ingredients like glycerin and panthenol, according to the brand. While it’s safe for daily use on all skin types, Godio says this is especially great for her sensitive skin . “It’s gentle enough to not cause irritation and hydrating enough to leave my skin feeling soft and moisturized,” she says. “It also doesn’t strip the skin of its natural oils or leave a tight, uncomfortable feeling.” 

It’s also formulated with niacinamide (another gentle and hydrating ingredient), which causes Daruvuri to notice that the common redness she sees on her chin is reduced when she uses this cleanser because the key ingredient helps combat discoloration.

Youth to the People Superfood Gentle Cleanser

Youth to People Superfood Gentle Cleanser

Award : Best face cleanser | Skin type : Combination

Youth to the People’s face wash is chocked full of antioxidants. “Even after a single use, I felt like my skin was noticeably brighter and healthier-looking,” says Night. 

The gel-to-foam cleanser is made for daily use for those with combination but is also great for those with normal, dry and oily-prone skin individuals who are looking to cleanse their skin and combat pores and blemishes. “This removes my makeup, leaves my skin soft and clean, makes my skin look more youthful and helps keep me acne-free ,” says Fredricks.

RoC Skincare Barrier Renew Gel-to-Foam Cleanser

Award : Best face cleanser | Skin type : Oily

RoC’s gel-to-foam cleanser has ceramides , green tea and glycerin to provide your skin with a deep cleanse (involving removing excess oil and dirt and minimizing pores) while still maintaining and protecting your skin barrier , according to the brand.  “Overall, this is a very lightweight, basic, gentle cleanser and I love that it’s super reliable no matter what condition my sensitive skin is in,” says Malin, who also has oily skin.

This option, which has the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance, is made without common irritants like fragrances and is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores, according to RoC. 

Farmacy Clearly Clean Cleansing Balm  

Farmacy Clearly Clean Cleansing Balm

Award : Best face cleanser | Category : Balm

If you’re looking to incorporate double cleansing into your skin care routine , Farmacy makes some of our favorite cleansing balms , including this winning option. The fragrance-free solid balm is soft to the touch and melts into your skin when applied, according to Fuechtman. “This balm is so lightweight, non-greasy, and is able to take even some of the most stubborn makeup off my face,” she says.

Cetaphil Intensive Moisturizing Cream  

Cetaphil Intensive Moisturizing Cream

Award : Best facial moisturizer

One of our favorite moisturizers for dry skin , this Cetaphil cream has ingredients like niacinamide , glycerin and panthenol to help soothe and hydrate sensitive skin. Our testers found that this moisturizer worked well on both the face and body. Since it’s a thicker cream, the brand recommends using it at night.

“Even though this cream is definitely one of the thicker moisturizers I’ve tried, it absorbs quickly into my skin and doesn’t leave behind a sticky, greasy residue like many others do,” says Godio. “I also have super sensitive skin, and this one doesn’t irritate it at all.”

Tata Harper Water-Lock Moisturizer  

Tata Harper Water-Lock Moisturizer

Award: Best facial moisturizer | Skin type: Combination

This Tata Harper facial moisturizer is great for combination skin since it’s both lightweight and has key hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid . It also doubles as a primer to help makeup go on smoothly and stay on throughout the day. Plus, our reviewers found the light citrus scent pleasant and not too overpowering. 

“This moisturizer smelled great and kept my skin smooth and moisturized throughout the night — it didn’t feel like it just disappeared on my skin after a few minutes,” says Fernandez. 

Belif Aqua Bomb True Cream   

Belif Aqua Bomb True Cream

Award: Best facial moisturizer | Skin type: Oily

Belif’s The True Cream Aqua Bomb feels refreshing and hydrates the skin within seconds, according to our reviewers. “It’s almost like putting on aloe vera, it’s very cooling and moisturizing,” says CNBC Select associate reporter Andreina Rodriguez. It has hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, and has a lightweight gel consistency, which absorbs quickly into the skin.

“This was a product that I kept returning too — I like the way my skin feels hydrated after applying it, and it spreads evenly throughout my entire face,” says Bowman. 

Vaseline Radiant x Deep Nourishment Body Lotion

Award : Best body moisturizer

This Vaseline body lotion has a thick, creamy consistency that helps hydrate and soften the skin without leaving a greasy, sticky or uncomfortable residue.  It has key hydrating ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil, plus it’s noncomedogenic, which means it won’t clog pores and is safe for sensitive skin. Its light, coconut scent is also pleasant and not too overpowering, according to our reviewers. 

“The hydration I got from the lotion lasted all day, and I didn’t feel like I needed to reapply it all the time,” says NBC Page Alexa Casanueva. “It applies thicker than other lotions I tried, but still doesn’t feel too heavy."

How we chose our winners

Products underwent a five-week trial before being selected as our favorite in their respective categories. We utilized our editors as shopping and trying experts.

When we look at any products, especially wellness items, we look at them comprehensively. To be our favorite in a category requires fulfilling many of our readers’ needs. We want to provide products that perform well, but we also want to share ones that allow our readers to upgrade their lives. Among other things, we specifically looked at price, size-inclusivity and overall quality and effectiveness. Each category required different criteria to consider during our trial period.

What our badge means

When a product carries the NBC Select badge, you can trust that our team of editors as shopping experts and professionals vetted the item thoroughly. First and foremost, we are journalists, so we will always do our research and reporting.

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Select Staff on NBC News