Cigna Medicare Annual Wellness Visits

Members of Cigna Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans enjoy full coverage of the Medicare annual wellness visit. 

The annual wellness visit is covered by Medicare Part B, and all Medicare Advantage plans must include all the same benefits found in Medicare Part A and Part B. So by an extension of that rule, all Cigna Medicare Advantage plans cover the annual wellness visit. 

What Is the Annual Wellness Visit?

The annual wellness visit is a yearly check-in with your doctor. However, aside from gathering your height, weight and blood pressure and possible testing your vision, the annual wellness visit does not include any physical examination or blood work and is therefore different from a routine yearly physical. 

The annual wellness visit instead focuses on preventive care and healthy aging. Your doctor will use the time to assess your diet, lifestyle and health history to identify any potential threats to your future wellbeing. 

Each year, you will return for another wellness visit to discuss any changes in your health or lifestyle since the last visit and provide your doctor with an overall wellness update. 

What Happens During a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?

During your Medicare annual wellness visit, you may be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your health conditions, medications, mood and lifestyle. You may also be asked to provide information about your own health history as well as that of your family to help your doctor determine if you might be at an increased risk for any diseases or conditions. 

Your doctor may also perform a cognitive impairment assessment to check for early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia as well as depression or other mood disorders. 

You may be asked to provide a list of the health care providers you have recently seen or are currently seeing along with a list of past and current prescription medications. This information will help your doctor issue referrals for care and prescribe future medications. 

Based on the information gathered during your annual wellness visit, your doctor will formulate a personalized health plan that includes a list of your potential risks and their treatments, recommendations for diet or lifestyle changes and a vaccination schedule.

Your doctor may also order blood work or other tests, which are not covered as part of the annual wellness visit and may require a separate appointment. 

Is the Annual Wellness Visit the Same as the Welcome to Medicare Visit?

When you first enroll in Medicare, you will be eligible for a Welcome to Medicare visit within your first 12 months of being enrolled in Medicare. This visit serves as an initial baseline of your health, and the annual wellness visits act as yearly follow-up appointments. 

The Welcome to Medicare visit is similar in form to the annual wellness visit. There is no physical exam outside of some basic measurements. 

Are Physical Exams Covered by Cigna Medicare?

If you would like to have a traditional physical exam, a Cigna Medicare Advantage plan may provide coverage for it. Many Medicare Advantage plans provide such a benefit.

Check your plan benefits or get help from a licensed insurance agent to find a Cigna Medicare Advantage plan that covers a physical exam in addition to the annual wellness visit. 

How Much Does the Annual Wellness Visit Cost?

Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) does not charge any deductible or coinsurance for the annual wellness visit, and neither do most Medicare Advantage plans like those from Cigna. You may have to pay a deductible and/or coinsurance if additional tests or procedures are ordered because of the wellness visit, and that care is not included as a preventive benefit. 

Many Cigna Medicare Advantage plans come with a $0 premium, so there is no cost to join the plan. 

Depending on the type of Cigna Medicare Advantage plan in which you are enrolled, you may have to have your annual wellness visit conducted by a doctor who participates in the Cigna network. Certain Medicare Advantage plans, such as PPO plans, may allow members to receive an annual wellness visit from a doctor outside of the Cigna network and still receive some coverage for the appointment. 

How Do You Enroll in a Cigna Medicare Plan That Covers the Annual Wellness Visit?

All Cigna Medicare Advantage plans cover the annual wellness visit. In order to enroll in a plan, you must first be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B and there are only certain times throughout the year in which you may enroll. 

Working with a licensed insurance agent is the surest way to review all your Medicare Advantage plan options and enroll in one suited to your needs.