Preventive care can catch problems before they become serious. Here’s why your annual wellness visit matters more than you might think.
There’s a good chance you can tell us exactly when your car was last serviced. But when it comes to your own health checkup? That one might be a little fuzzier.
You’re not alone. Men are significantly less likely than women to visit a primary care provider regularly, and older men in rural communities are among the most underserved when it comes to preventive care. Often, men don’t go to the provider until something is really wrong.
But here’s the thing: the goal of preventive care is to catch things before they become serious. And that only works if you actually show up.
June is Men’s Health Month, and we’re using it to make a simple ask: schedule your visit.
What Happens at a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
A lot of men skip checkups because they feel fine. But a wellness visit is still important.
A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit helps you look at your health now and plan for the year ahead. It is a time to talk with your provider about risks, screenings, and ways to stay well.
At this visit, your provider may:
- Review your health history and any changes since your last visit
- Check your height, weight, and blood pressure
- Go over your medicines
- Talk about memory, mood, and how you are feeling day to day
- Look at your risk for falls and ways to stay safe at home
- Make a plan for screenings, vaccines, and other preventive care you may need
This visit helps you stay on top of your health. It can help catch concerns early and help you make a plan to stay well.
Your Wellness Visit and Your Medicare Plan
Most people with Medicare can get an annual wellness visit. However, frequency and cost can vary based on your plan type and the nature of the visit.
If you have Original Medicare, your AWV is typically covered under Part B at no cost to you. You can have this visit once every 12 months. This visit is focused on prevention and planning. It is not the same as a full physical exam.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your coverage may be a little different. Many plans also cover a yearly wellness visit, but how often the visit is covered can vary. Some plans may follow the same once-every-12-months schedule as Original Medicare, while others allow you to have one per calendar year, regardless of when your last AWV was.
It’s a good idea to check with your plan and provider so you know what’s covered. And, if you haven’t had your wellness visit this year, this is a good time to ask about it and get it on the calendar.
The Conditions That Affect Men Most
Older men face a specific set of health risks that are worth paying attention to.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and the risk goes up with age. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking history, and diabetes all increase that risk. Many of these conditions can be managed well with the right care plan, but only if they’re identified.
Diabetes is another major one. Nearly 1 in 4 adults over 65 has diabetes, and many don’t know it. Left unmanaged, it can affect your heart, kidneys, vision, and nerves.
Colorectal cancer screenings are also recommended for men in this age group, as are screenings for aortic aneurysm for men who have ever smoked. Your provider can walk you through what’s right for you based on your personal history.
A Note on Mental Health
Men are less likely to talk about mental health, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Depression, anxiety, and loneliness affect men just as much as women, and older men are at a higher risk of suicide than almost any other demographic.
If something has been weighing on you, your provider is a safe person to tell. You don’t have to have the right words. Just bring it up.
Your Health Is Worth Showing Up For
At Hopscotch, our goal is simple: we want you healthy and enjoying life in your own home, with fewer trips to the ER and fewer hospital stays we could have prevented. We do that by managing the conditions you have today, screening for what could become a problem down the road, and keeping you current on the vaccines that are right for you.
Taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury. It’s how you stay independent, stay active, and stay present for the people who matter to you.
At Hopscotch, we make it easy. Same-day appointments, a care team that knows you by name, and more time with your provider so your visit never feels rushed.
Already a Hopscotch patient? Call us to schedule your wellness visit today.
Not yet a patient? Find a location near you and let’s get you on the calendar.