topic Re: Medicare wellness check-up in Wellness

Medicare wellness check-up

Nataliesgramma — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 10:37:41 GMT

I just had my first one and I just felt it was a waste of time for me.I thought it would be more of a physical type appointment, but it was just a bunch of questions like ....have I fallen in the last year....do I have throw rugs in my house....do I feel threatened at home...would I have a good quality of life if I lost my eyesight......

Maybe it is more relevant for older Seniors, but I didn't see any benefit....

I felt like I took up the Drs time when he could have been seeing someone who really needed to be seen..

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

ID2 — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 10:47:11 GMT

I'm only asked those required questions in the questionnaire I fill out before my appt. My doctor is always very thorough. Maybe you need to change your doctor?

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

RealtyGal2 — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 11:28:00 GMT

@Nataliesgramma wrote:
I just had my first one and I just felt it was a waste of time for me.I thought it would be more of a physical type appointment, but it was just a bunch of questions like ....have I fallen in the last year....do I have throw rugs in my house....do I feel threatened at home...would I have a good quality of life if I lost my eyesight......

Maybe it is more relevant for older Seniors, but I didn't see any benefit....

I felt like I took up the Drs time when he could have been seeing someone who really needed to be seen..

My doctor takes blood, sends me for a mammogram and a pap smear, a bone density test, and sometimes a colonoscopy. I have had 2 doctors since I have been on Medicare and they have both given me a regular physical. I don't recall my doctor asking me any of those questions. Maybe try another doctor who has a better understanding of Medicare..

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

jackthebear — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 11:57:20 GMT

@Nataliesgramma wrote:
I just had my first one and I just felt it was a waste of time for me.I thought it would be more of a physical type appointment, but it was just a bunch of questions like ....have I fallen in the last year....do I have throw rugs in my house....do I feel threatened at home...would I have a good quality of life if I lost my eyesight......

Maybe it is more relevant for older Seniors, but I didn't see any benefit....

I felt like I took up the Drs time when he could have been seeing someone who really needed to be seen..

those are the Welcome to Medicare questions, standard,

Dr get paid to ask them

Waste of time

the geeger — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 11:59:53 GMT

I'm 74 and I totally agree, This annual Medicare physical is a sham! Yes, they ask questions and this is supposed to analyze your state of health. The doctor comes in after the questionaire is completed. Don't look at anything but your blood results. No urine sample, no other examination. Remember is is dictated by the federal government. I like my PA and Dr. so changing would not change anything.

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

on the bay — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 12:19:36 GMT

@Nataliesgramma -

I've often thought they were a waste of time as well.

Anything beyond just general things that a nurse or cna would do before seeing a doctor, is not part of a "medicare wellness."

Many offices do not make this clear, that it is not a physical where the doctor takes blood or other lab tests. That would be my objection that they do not let you know because not every insurance company will cover all of these tests.

Below is a good reference for those being encouraged to have a "medicare wellness visit."

"Well," you might ask "what's the difference?" During a Medicare annual wellness visit, the provider will measure height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure. ... Any blood work or lab tests that may be part of a physical exam, are also not included under a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit.Sep 28, 2017"

Come to think of it, you could do all these with your own at home visit

yourself and pay yourself the over $100 or whatever dollars and save yourself the drive and time and visit, especially now! Ask the questions of yourself, get a blood pressure cuff if you don't already have one, you know your height and weight anyway or most do. I really don't get why they have these at all.

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

PINKdogWOOD — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 13:24:05 GMT

@Nataliesgramma Kind of sounds like you are just now of the age for medicare signup. They freaked me out when I first signed up too and tried to pull this on me too. I contacted my own PCP about this and he laughed - at them. Said this is not at all necessary for them to 'con' us into this with them.

They are not your PCP. Schedule your own wellness with your own Dr. They know nothing of your medical history, cannot do anything for you except what they did - waste your time and freak you out.

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

Deb665 — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 13:33:33 GMT

Along with the questions , I had to draw a clock face and make it read 10:45! I felt rather insulted at some of the questions.

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

Sunshine Kate — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 13:35:28 GMT

I called Medicare about this wellness check. It is NOT mandatory. I just ignore it. I would rather a doctor spend time with someone that really needs to see a doctor.

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

tototwo — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 14:00:56 GMT

I get a letter from Medicare about once a year telling me that it's time for my Medicare checkup. I've gone a couple times - it's free! - and most of the questions are testing for Alzheimers and other signs of declining mental abilities. Then they check vital signs, etc. It's not done by my regular physician, but at a Medicare clinic in my physian's building. Not mandatory. I think it's a good idea, tho.

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

CalminHeart — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 14:07:25 GMT

Those questions may not apply to OP but they may apply to other 65 and 70 year olds.

Why get upset about it? Make light of it and move on.

I'm happy to answer those questions in order to keep Medicare. It's been a godsend for me.

ThRe: Medicare wellness check-up

software — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 14:14:07 GMT

The information is recorded by Medicare in their database.

It's not patient specific, names are peeled off.

It can follow trends of illnesses or potential illnesses to better serve Medicare patients.

One use of the information is to determine what tests should be required when.

For example, after a certain age, mammograms are only necessary every other year.

Medicare does the same studies on hospitalizations. Why admitted? How long did you stay, etc. For example, if you need to be in the hospital for 3 days for your particular admission, then Medicare will pay for 3 days & the hospital will get the proper reimbursement. You won't be rushed out after a day or 2.

But it looks like you all know better.

You can opt out.

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

felixmom — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 14:19:16 GMT

@Deb665 Along with the questions , I had to draw a clock face and make it read 10:45! I felt rather insulted at some of the questions

The clock face drawing is done as a very preliminary test for Alzeimer's.......

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

SeaMaiden — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 14:24:07 GMT

@Nataliesgramma My husband went for his first physical after turning 65 and starting Medicare this month. It was the same as his prior Physicals....no special questions. We also have supplemental Premera Blue cross coverage.

Do you have supplemental health coverage besides Medicare?

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

Mmsfoxxie — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 14:58:50 GMT

For me, my wellness exam seems like a psychological exam. And I like it because I get to talk about things no one asks me and if I talk about they aren't really listening. They usually give me that memory test but didn't this time. (Maybe they forgot, lol).

On my own, I make sure I fast so that I can request all of my blood work while I'm there. I got my flu shot, too.

I first wellness check that I had, I felt the same as the original poster....waste of time. But as I was driving home afterwards, I felt like a weight had been lifted because I felt the doctor really listened and shared in the discussion instead of me just whining to someone really was listening to me to be polite. Due to Covid, my normal May visit didn't happen til September, though. Boy did I have a lot to share. I told my doctor that he needed a couch to make my session complete.

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

henderson — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 15:37:31 GMT

@Deb665 wrote:
Along with the questions , I had to draw a clock face and make it read 10:45! I felt rather insulted at some of the questions.

The clock test and other tests they give are to check your memory. My friend flunked it (I knew she was having problems with her memory). Her dr. was alerted about this. Also, I got a $25 Visa card for doing my wellness exam. My husband whose has a lot of medical problems had this exam done at our home. For some reason he got a $65 Visa card!!

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

CatsyCline — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 15:46:48 GMT

My doctor's office does The Wellness Exam separately. it is a Medicare survey, just questions, they record BP height/weight. Some if the questions are invasive IMO. just did the wellness one time although they still try to book one every year. They get credit from Medicare or some sort of incentive. A nurse does these surveys.

The Annual exam covers the physical, my doctor takes about 45 minutes with me reviewing my health and orders labs.

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

HLP — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 16:36:46 GMT

@Nataliesgramma wrote:
I just had my first one and I just felt it was a waste of time for me.I thought it would be more of a physical type appointment, but it was just a bunch of questions like ....have I fallen in the last year....do I have throw rugs in my house....do I feel threatened at home...would I have a good quality of life if I lost my eyesight......

Maybe it is more relevant for older Seniors, but I didn't see any benefit....

I felt like I took up the Drs time when he could have been seeing someone who really needed to be seen..

Mine used to be phoned into me, till I wised up and quit answering. The Lady asked me if I needed help getting dressed, and if I did was there anyone I could get to help me.? I said ,"well theres a widower next door, but he probably needs help more than me". Another was "have you tried or have you thought about hurting yourself?" These are just stupid, and I don't feel answering them. There is a medical group, for about $100.00, that gives you a good phsical, with blood work, and corotid test. worth the money, if you haven't had these test.

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

ALRATIBA — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 16:49:24 GMT

I don't bother with those "wellness" things at all.

My former PCP gave me the best advice .... avoid doctors unless you are sick or injured.

Re: Medicare wellness check-up

hckynut — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 17:00:28 GMT

@Nataliesgramma

Myself personally! I spend enough time already seeing doctors, and getting pretty complete tests, every 6 months. Blood tests every 3 months, and even a PCP full physical every year.

The PCP physical is mostly to satisfy some Medical Requirements to continue taking my long term prescription meds. Without this unnecessary physical annually, my PCP would be taken to task for prescribing them.

I have been sent info on this Wellness Test, because of the above, I have not even read it.

hckynut