I've never had the Medicare Wellness Exam before. I've always been very healthy and felt that if I had an issue, I'd call to see my PCP. We moved in February from AZ to PA so that meant new everything, including doctors. We found a good medical group that's in network and when our new PCP said we should have our Wellness Exams, I reluctantly agreed. Two weeks ago, I had my appointment with a NP. I can honestly say, I will never go again for this "exam". It was a total waste of my time. The only thing done was my weight, BP, and pulse. She asked me some questions, like...have I fallen within the last 12 months, do I smoke or drink, am I depressed. That was it. Have any of you had this done and, if you have, what did they do?
Hello Kay and welcome. I see this is your first post and I'm glad you decided to join us! As to the "wellness exam"... yes, I fell for that once and had the same experience as you. A total waste of time and an obvious money grab for the PCP. I have not had another since.
Never had a Medicare Wellness Exam and have never been asked/told to have one. Back in 2008, we got a full Physical and that was when I found out that I was a Diabetic II. Both wife and I get labs (blood) done whenever our PCP request it, but that's it.
My Advantage Plan wants me to do that every fall, and I would agree that it was a waste of time but it was during a wellness exam that they found my thyroid cancer. Those are with my doctor, however. I had noticed something in my neck that felt like a BB once but then I couldn't find it again so I forgot about it, and that's what it was. But if you're talking about the ones where an outside group conducts a wellness exam. I went to one of them once, also recommended by my Advantage Plan, and that was a complete waste of time. Blood pressure and asking a bunch of stupid questions, and that was it.
Our Humana Medicare Advantage plan asks for a wellness check each year, and it appears that Medicare wants people to do this. It seems to not amount to much out of the ordinary to me either. They usually do the usual checks (temp, BP, etc) and then they have you remember a few words, and draw the time on a clock face, stuff like that. One doctor had us walking up and down the hall to see how my balance looked, and maybe check for knee arthritis. We have a rewards plan with Humana called go365, and we get points for doing things like wellness checks, and any other doctor events that they ask for us to do. Then the points can be cashed in for gift cards, and we get $10 each month in GC just for walking at least 500 steps per day, plus extra points for doctor visits like the wellness check.
We also have Humana. We've had it for years and it's been very good for us. Hubby had back surgery last June (2021) and then a total knee replacement in August, 2021.
My pre-Medicare doctor was on a concierge service. I got an "Executive Physical" as part of it every year, to include eye exams, and EKG, a spirometer (lung capacity), lifestyle questionnaires, etc. It took several hours. Medicare does not pay for physicals, it pays for these "Wellness Exams." I've had more thorough exams while ballroom dancing. To make matters worse, after my "exam," my doctor told me I needed to have blood drawn for lab work and to make an appointment with the nurse on my way out!!! That only happened once. I agree, it's horribly cursory. Maybe they don't want to find anything wrong.
I just had one last week. Waste of time. I wish they'd let you fill out the questionnaire yourself, instead of someone asking you all the questions. It seems like there are 100 questions. I don't think it does any harm as long as you are going for something else anyway. But I wouldn't schedule a visit just for that alone.
I think Medicare will pay for ONE real physical.. I think they call it an "Induction Exam" and is done shortly after you become a beneficiary. I have never had one and I don't know anyone who has, so they must be pretty rare. That is what my paperwork said, though.
I am considering finding a doctor who is part of the concierge program that my long-term GP was a member of (MDVIP.) When I moved here in 2010, there was only one such doctor in the region, and she was an hour away. I now see that there are now 7 within 50 miles, one of them 25 miles up the road...hardly "in my neighborhood." I have no idea what the monthly fees are these days, but they include that extensive Executive Physical. And part of the program is the physician limiting their patient load, so there are always same-day appointments available.
I was curious yesterday to see how much my insurance was billed for the wellness "exam" so went to Humana's site and logged in to my account. I usually keep track of all charges anyway, especially since hubby had 2 surgeries last year. Anyway, Humana was billed $344, but, of course, Medicare only paid the customary rate of $104.....which, IMHO, for the NP doing nothing is more than they should have gotten. It's nothing more than a money making thing for the doctor. I won't be getting this again.