Many people only visit the doctor when they experience symptoms, but seeing a health care provider when you’re healthy can help to keep you feeling that way. For anyone with Medicare, scheduling an annual wellness visit is an easy way for your provider to see changes in your health and determine how they can best support your continued well-being.

“The primary purpose of an annual wellness visit is prevention,” says Sabrina Platt, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC, who practices with St. Clair Medical Group Internal Medicine. Not to be confused with a physical, this visit is a series of questions and observations that can help your provider create or update a personalized prevention plan based on your current health and risk factors.

Sabrina continues, “Annual wellness visits are not mandatory, but they are a great opportunity to get face-to-face time with your provider, tell them what is and isn’t working for you, and ask them what they can do about it.”

To make the most of your annual wellness visit, Sabrina recommends you bring written lists of your current medications, health care providers, and any health questions or concerns you may have. The more a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant knows about your medical history, the better they can evaluate your overall health and offer personalized health advice.

“Seeing a health care provider once a year, especially when you are healthy, can decrease the risk of disease,” emphasizes Sabrina. “If health problems are caught early, they are more likely to respond to treatment—which can lead to a longer, healthier life free of disease burden.”

If you’ve had Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) for more than one year, you may be eligible for an annual wellness visit at no cost. Please call 412.942.4000 or visit stclair.org/internalmedicine today to schedule your annual wellness visit with a primary care provider within the St. Clair Medical Group network.