What Is a Well-Care Visit?

Have you ever wondered why you need a well-care visit or how often you should see your doctor to check on your health? Here's why and when you might need one.

Once a year, millions of Americans head to their primary care doctor's office for their annual check-up. More than 90 percent of Americans surveyed say they think it's important to see their doctor for a yearly check of their health and wellness, but only 62 percent have an annual physical.

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What is a well-care visit?

A well-care visit is a chance for you to check in with your doctor about your health. You can discuss ongoing concerns, along with lifestyle strategies to prevent you from getting sick. This appointment also gives you a chance to ask your doctor questions.

The typical well-care visit looks something like this:

• First, a nurse will check your weight, blood pressure, and pulse. They'll also go over your list of medications. You may be asked to give a urine or blood sample.
• When your doctor comes in, they'll ask about any changes to your health or your family medical history. The doctor will also want to know how you've been feeling and whether you've had any new or changing symptoms.

During the physical exam, your doctor might:

• Listen to your heart and lungs
• Look into your ears, eyes, nose, and throat
• Feel the lymph nodes in your neck
• Check your reflexes

The exam will end with a discussion of next steps, including any new medications and an appointment for your next visit. Your doctor will record the details of your well-care visit in your electronic health record.

How often do I need a well-care visit?

The yearly doctor's visit has been a routine part of healthcare for as long as many of us can remember. Yet science doesn't back up the benefits of seeing a doctor once a year for most healthy adults. Getting an annual check-up won't help you avoid illness or live longer, and it could lead to unnecessary tests and procedures.

It is important to have a primary care doctor you trust and to see them when you're sick. If you're generally healthy, ask your doctor how often you need to schedule well-care visits.

Even if you don't see your doctor every year, you should still visit him or her to:

• Manage chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.
• Get your recommended vaccinations.
• Control disease risk factors like a family history, smoking, or obesity.
• Talk about healthy lifestyle practices such as diet and exercise.
• Schedule mammograms, colonoscopies, and other recommended screenings.
• Refill expired medication prescriptions.

Note that these recommendations are for adults. Kids need more frequent doctor visits, especially during their first few years of life, to check their growth, get vaccinated, and monitor milestones like walking and talking.

As you get older, your doctor might suggest that you have an exam every year or more often to monitor for health problems that become more common with age.

Is my well-care visit covered by insurance?

The Affordable Care Act requires private health insurance plans to cover a range of preventive services. Your insurance, however, might not pay the entire cost of every test you get during a wellness exam. Check with your doctor's office before your visit to find out what you'll be responsible for paying out of pocket.

Medicare will cover the cost of an annual wellness visit, provided that you've been enrolled in Part B for at least one year. That visit might also include screening for dementia, falls, and other health risks.

What you can do

Research finds that primary care doctors spend an average of just 18 minutes with each patient. To get the most from your well-care visit, come prepared with:

• A list of questions you'd like to ask
• Any test results you want to share with your doctor
• A list of all the medications you take, including over-the-counter medicines and herbal supplements
• Any changes to your medical history since your last visit
• Your blood pressure, sleep, or any other health measures you track with your smartphone or watch

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