Aetna's Annual Wellness Visit

Aetna Medicare insurance is not to only be used when you’re sick or injured. It also provides coverage for most preventive health services, one of them being an annual wellness visit. 

Medicare Advantage plans (also called Medicare Part C) like the ones provided by Aetna are required by law to cover everything that's covered by Medicare Part A and Part B. And that includes Medicare’s yearly wellness visit. A Medicare annual wellness visit is similar to a physical exam but not quite as extensive. While a wellness visit includes checking many of the same routine measurements as a physical exam, it does not include blood work and other tests that might be performed in a physical. 

When Do Aetna Medicare Plans Pay for Wellness Checks?

During your first 12 months having Medicare Part B (you must have Part B in order to have an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan), you are eligible for a “Welcome to Medicare” preventive care visit. The Welcome to Medicare visit is similar to your annual wellness visit and provides your doctor with a baseline of your health that will be measured against during your future annual wellness visits. 

After your 12th month of Part B enrollment, you are then eligible to receive annual wellness visits once every calendar year. With Aetna Medicare plans, when you undergo a wellness visit late in the year, you may have another covered wellness visit early the following year. There is no need to wait 12 months between visits as long as the visits are in different calendar years. 

What’s Covered in an Annual Wellness Visit?

AWVs include reviews of medical history, taking health measurements, personalized health advice, and more. 

Review of Medical and Family History

A review of your medical history will identify which conditions may be of increased risk to you. Reviewing your family’s medical history can reveal any hereditary conditions worth monitoring, as some health conditions could become risks for you if they are prevalent in your family health history. 

This step is especially important during your very first wellness visit, as it will provide your doctor with a baseline of your overall health, create an opportunity for early detection and pinpoint any areas that need improvement. 

Developing and Updating List of Current Providers

It’s helpful for your primary care physician to know which health care providers you have seen before and who you prefer. This is especially true for members of Aetna Medicare HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plans, where care is coordinated by your primary care physician within a network of participating doctors.

Developing and Updating List of Current Prescriptions 

Prescription drug management is among the keys to good health and safe medication use. Knowing the types of drugs, you are taking along with their frequency and dosage levels will better help your doctor prescribe future medications, make diet recommendations and balance other aspects of your health. 

Taking Routine Health Measurements

Your height, weight, blood pressure and other vitals will be measured at each wellness visit. This helps your doctor see how your body has changed since your last visit and can be critical as they prescribe medications or other health recommendations. 

Detection of Cognitive Impairment

Cognitive impairment can be a part of aging, and early detection is key. During your annual wellness visit, your doctor will screen you for Alzheimer’s and dementia along with mood disorders like depression. Additional tests may be ordered if your doctor feels they are warranted from the results of initial screening. 

Personalized Health Advice

The annual wellness visit is not just about reviewing the previous year of your health; it’s also about planning for the upcoming year. Your doctor will use the information gathered during your visit to offer advice and formulate a plan to address any problem areas of your health. 

List of Risk Factors and Treatment Options 

Part of the personalized health advice you’ll receive is a list of your risk factors based on your medical history and your basic health measurements. Accompanying this list of risk factors will be a list of treatment options for you to pursue at your doctor’s recommendation. 

Screening Schedule

Your doctor will use the information gathered during your wellness visit to prepare a schedule of tests, screenings, vaccinations and other preventive services for the upcoming year. Your list of recommended screenings may be based on your family health history, age, weight and other indicators of health risks. 

Advance Care Planning

Advance care planning is planning for your care should you become unable to speak for yourself. It may also include an advance directive, which is a legal document recording your desires about medical treatment administered after the point at which you are no longer able to communicate your wishes. 

What Does the AWV Medical Abbreviation Mean?

In relation to Medicare, AWV stand for the Annual Wellness Visit. This is an annual appointment with your doctor to create a personalized health plan.