The Welcome to Medicare visit is free when your doctor accepts assignment, it's a one-time preventive check-up, and you've only got your first 12 months on Part B to use it. If a letter just landed suggesting you book one, here's what it actually is and whether it's worth your time.

In This Guide

What Is the Welcome to Medicare Visit?

The Welcome to Medicare visit is a one-time preventive check-up that Medicare Part B covers when you're new to the program. Its formal name is the Initial Preventive Physical Examination, which everyone shortens to IPPE. Think of it less as an exam and more as a sit-down: your doctor takes stock of where your health stands and helps you get pointed at the preventive care Medicare will cover going forward.

It is not a comprehensive physical exam. If you show up expecting a full head-to-toe workup, you may leave a little underwhelmed. The visit is built to review your history, flag risks, and set you up with a plan, not to poke and prod every system. So if you have a specific problem you want looked at, mention it, but don't count on this visit alone to handle it.

Is the Welcome to Medicare Visit Free?

Yes, for the visit itself. You pay nothing for the Welcome to Medicare visit when your provider accepts assignment, and the Part B deductible does not apply. That "accepts assignment" phrase matters: it means the doctor agrees to take Medicare's approved amount as full payment. Most providers who see Medicare patients do, but it's a fair question to ask when you book.

So where can a bill sneak in? If your doctor orders additional tests or does something at the same appointment that isn't part of the free preventive benefit, that extra piece can be billed the normal way. For those add-ons you may owe the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) and then 20% coinsurance on the Medicare-approved amount., The visit itself stays free; it's the anything-extra that can carry a charge. If cost is on your mind, ask your doctor before the appointment which parts fall inside the free visit and which don't.

When Can You Get It? The First-12-Months Window

This is the rule that trips people up most. The Welcome to Medicare visit is available only once, and only within the first 12 months you have Part B. The federal regulation behind it, 42 CFR 410.16, says you're eligible only if you get the visit no more than one year after your Part B coverage starts.

So the clock starts the day your Part B kicks in, not the day you turn 65 and not the day you first hear about the visit. If month 13 rolls around and you never booked it, that one-time benefit is off the table. Good news, though: you don't lose out on preventive care entirely. Once you've been on Part B past that first year, you move on to the yearly Annual Wellness Visit instead, which we'll get to below.

What Actually Happens at the Visit

The Welcome to Medicare visit is mostly a conversation, and it's more useful than it sounds. Your doctor works through several things covered under the IPPE. Here's what's on the list:

  • A review of your medical and social history. Past conditions, surgeries, medications, family history, plus lifestyle pieces like diet, activity, and whether you live alone.
  • Preventive screenings and vaccine information. The visit covers screenings and information on recommended vaccines, such as flu and pneumococcal shots.
  • A look at your risk factors. The doctor assesses things that raise your risk for future health problems so you can get ahead of them.
  • A written plan and referrals. You leave with a written plan and any referrals you need for the screenings and follow-up care that make sense for you.

None of that requires you to undress or get a battery of tests on the spot. It's the doctor building a map of your health and handing you the directions. Bring a list of your medications and any questions, and you'll get a lot more out of the half hour.

Welcome to Medicare Visit vs. the Annual Wellness Visit

People mix these two up constantly, and it's easy to see why: both are preventive, both are free, and both involve a chat with your doctor rather than a physical. But they're genuinely different visits.

The Welcome to Medicare visit is the one-time IPPE you can only get in your first 12 months on Part B. The Annual Wellness Visit is a separate, recurring visit you can get year after year once you've been on Part B for a while. You don't have to choose between them, and you don't get both in the same year. Think of the Welcome visit as your on-ramp and the Annual Wellness Visit as the yearly tune-up that follows. For the full breakdown of what the yearly visit covers, see our guide below.

If you're weighing Original Medicare against a Medicare Advantage plan, know that Advantage plans have to cover at least the same basic benefits as Original Medicare, including these preventive visits, though the way you access them can differ by plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make sure I'm not charged for the visit?

Two things protect you. When you book, confirm the provider accepts Medicare assignment, and ask the office to bill the appointment as the preventive Welcome to Medicare visit. A cost only appears if the doctor adds a test or service that falls outside that benefit, which is billed under your normal Part B cost-sharing.

When exactly does my 12-month window start?

The clock starts the day your Part B coverage begins, which is not always your 65th birthday. If you delayed Part B, your year runs from your actual Part B start date. This is the detail people miss most, so check the coverage-start date on your Medicare card.

Will the doctor examine me or run tests?

Not in the way a routine physical would. The visit is built as a structured review of your history, screenings, vaccines, and risk factors that ends with a written plan, not a hands-on workup. If you have an active symptom you want checked, book a separate problem-focused appointment for it, since Medicare doesn't intend this visit to diagnose or treat on the spot.

Can I get the Annual Wellness Visit instead, or both?

Not both in the same 12 months. The Welcome visit is the one-time on-ramp for your first year, and you generally move to the recurring Annual Wellness Visit after that first year on Part B. So the Welcome visit comes first, if you choose to use it at all.

Do I have to get the Welcome to Medicare visit?

No, it's optional. But it's free, and it's your one shot to get a full read on your health and a written plan right as you start Medicare. If you're going to use it, book it inside that first-12-months window before it expires.

Learn More

MedicareMedicare Annual Wellness Visit: What the Free Yearly Visit CoversYour Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is $0, but it's not a physical, and one new symptom can turn it into a bill. What's covered, and how to keep it free. MedicareMedicare Preventive Services: What You Get for FreeMedicare preventive services are mostly free: two wellness visits, screenings, and vaccines at $0, plus the billing trap that can turn free into a charge. MedicareOriginal Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: How to ChooseCompare original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage on cost, networks, the $9,250 cap, and switching back. A neutral 2026 side-by-side to help you choose.

Find personalized help figuring out which Medicare visits you qualify for at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.