Wellness

[Nuttmeg]

---

@SeaMaiden wrote:

---

@chlema wrote:

My doctor's nurse recommended that I make an appointment for a wellness exam.  She said Medicare no longer covers a physical but instead covers this.  Said you meet with a nurse and answer lots of questions.  I wonder what else they want to know since they already have my history.  Anyone do this?  Seems odd to me.

---

why wouldn't Medical cover a yearly physical?? Than who does? Most people have a yearly physical.. if medicare does not cover this than does your secondary insurance cover it in full?  

---

@SeaMaiden

Medicare is considered primary insurance and a supplement plan is second. If Medicare does not cover a test, then your secondary policy will not pay. 

[Nuttmeg]

---

@chlema wrote:

My doctor's nurse recommended that I make an appointment for a wellness exam.  She said Medicare no longer covers a physical but instead covers this.  Said you meet with a nurse and answer lots of questions.  I wonder what else they want to know since they already have my history.  Anyone do this?  Seems odd to me.

@chlema 

---

I would recommend during a Google search "Medicare wellness test" . If you are new to Medicare, your checkup is called "new Medicare wellness test ".

The nurse will take your medical history, take your  height, weight and blood pressure. The nurse will calculate your BMI. This is a preventive exam. 

 There are diagnostic tests associated with this baseline health assessment. I found three pages of exams like A1C, mammogram, pap smear and the frequency Medicare will pay for them. 

I would take a copy with you and ask the nurse any questions. 

JMO, this is a preventive visit. If the nurse finds anything wrong, you will be given a follow up appointment or a referral. 

If you ask for any services, you  will have to pay for them. 

[Nuttmeg]

---

@chlema wrote:

It just seems to me that all that should be included in the 2x a year appointments that they have me going to for a bp check, prescription renewal, checking my heart and oxygen level, checking my ears  and asking if I have any concerns.   I also see a cardiologist once a year for a routine carotic test and echocardiogram.  So what more do they want lol

@chlema 

You can probably see the same doctors. Just check whether they take Medicare. 

---

[chlema]

@SeaMaiden No, secondary insurance only covers the part Medicare does not pay.  But since Medicare won't cover a physical than the secondary will not be an option.  The way of the world.

[chlema]

@Nuttmeg The thing is my primary covers all of this at my regular 6 month appointments so I think that this Wellness thing is kind of redundant and just another way to bill Medicare again.  

[RedTop]

@chlema,

The required Medicare wellness exam takes between 60-90 minutes, and is usually the longest time a patient ever spends with a medical provider.   

I have been with my mother thru 2 of these exams, which are done exclusively by the FNP at our doctors office.   

I feel this exam provides good information to her medical provider, along with providing statistical data used by Medicare.   This exam does a basic screening for memory loss; early into the exam, the FNP asked my mother to remember 3 simple words.   About 30 minutes later mother was asked for those 3 words; 1st exam she remembered 2 words, last year she didn’t remember any.   Not surprising, as mother has advancing dementia.   

There are questions that identify seniors who live alone, finding out if they have what they need to live comfortably, do they have anyone to call on for help, are they being abused physically or financially?   The exam also addresses routine vaccines, providing feedback data as to how many seniors have kept up their DPT vaccines, flu, pneumonia, shingles, etc.   My mother never realized she needed to stay current on the DPT shot.   

This exam also identifies seniors who do not have Living Wills and other advance directives.   My mother is a DNR, and has registered that document with the state of WV.  Because she chose to sign the DNR order, she does not do any screenings like mammogram, bone density, colonoscopy, etc.   

Essentially my mother sees the doctor 3x a year for basic health assessment, med refills on maintenance meds, her flu shot, and labs to check her thyroid, blood sugar and kidney function.