Reminder: Annual wellness visit covered by calendar year

Annual wellness visits — which are a covered benefit for Medicare members — offer a vital opportunity for providers and members to collaborate on preventive care and detect and address health issues early, empowering members to take charge of their health.

As a reminder, Tufts Health Plan uses a calendar year (Jan. 1 through Dec. 31) for coverage of annual wellness visits for members of our Tufts Health Plan Senior Care Options and Tufts Medicare Preferred products. This means that a member can schedule a wellness visit fewer than 365 days after their previous visit, so long as the visits are in different calendar years. (See example below.)

We encourage providers to schedule annual wellness visits with Medicare members who are overdue for these important check-ins. Our Annual Wellness Visit guide can assist you with helping your patients understand the components of the exam and how it can benefit their overall health and well-being.