The short answer
A yearly Medicare wellness visit focuses on a prevention plan. It is different from a routine physical. You pay nothing for the wellness visit if your provider accepts assignment, and the Part B deductible does not apply; other tests or services during the same visit can have a cost. Ask the office which visit you’re scheduling.
Ask before you go
Visit type
Ask for the name of the visit. Explain what you hope to discuss and ask whether that fits the visit being scheduled.
What to bring
Write down what you want to discuss. Ask the office how to arrange time for concerns outside the scheduled visit.
Possible costs
The wellness visit itself is covered at no cost when your provider accepts assignment. Additional tests or services during the same visit can lead to coinsurance or the Part B deductible. Ask who can confirm what applies to you.
Words you can use
“What type of visit is this, and could anything we discuss or do result in a separate charge?”
An everyday example · Fictional
Pat calls for an “annual checkup.” The office asks whether Pat means a wellness visit or a physical. Clarifying the visit first helps Pat ask about possible charges.
A question worth keeping
Ask what type of visit is scheduled and whether other services could lead to charges.
Source and scope
General educational guidance. This does not confirm benefits, eligibility, deadlines, or costs for an individual.
Official sources
Links open the official site in this tab. We send no information about you. Checked October 10, 2026.