If a letter just landed telling you to book a Welcome to Medicare visit, it's a one-time preventive check-up, and it's free when your doctor accepts assignment. You only get your first 12 months on Part B to use it, so here's what it actually is and whether it's worth your time.
In This Guide
- Key Takeaways
- What Is the Welcome to Medicare Visit?
- Is the Welcome to Medicare Visit Free?
- When Can You Get It? The First-12-Months Window
- What Actually Happens at the Visit
- Is the Welcome to Medicare Visit the Same as the Annual Wellness Visit?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Learn More
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.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit
It is not a comprehensive physical exam.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit 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.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit "Accepts assignment" is the phrase to watch, so it's a fair question to ask the office when you book. Most doctors accept assignment, but Medicare says to always check that yours does.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov — Does your provider accept Medicare as full payment?. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 22, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs/provider-accept-Medicare
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. Say you also ask the doctor to look at a new problem during the same appointment: that part is a separate service, not part of the free visit. If Medicare covers the add-on, you may have to pay coinsurance (for most Part B outpatient services that's 20% of the Medicare-approved amount), and the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) may apply.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles If Medicare doesn't cover the add-on at all, like a routine physical exam, you may have to pay the full amount.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit 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.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit 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.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit
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.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit If month 13 rolls around and you never booked it, that one-time benefit is off the table. Here's how that plays out if you worked past 65 on employer coverage. Say you kept that coverage until you retired and your Part B began March 1, 2028. Your Welcome to Medicare visit has to happen within one year of that date, so by March 2029, however long you waited to sign up.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit Your first Annual Wellness Visit can't take place within 12 months of your Part B enrollment or of your Welcome visit, so in this example it comes in March 2029 or later, whether or not you used the Welcome visit.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Preventive and screening services. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 8, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/preventive-screening-services
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 plus a couple of quick checks, and it covers more than most people expect. Here's what's on the list for the free visit:Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit
- 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.
- Screening and vaccine information. You get information about preventive services, including certain screenings and recommended vaccines, such as flu and pneumococcal shots.
- Two quick measurements. Your provider calculates your body mass index (BMI) and gives you a simple vision test.
- A depression and substance-use risk review. Your provider reviews your risk for depression and for substance use disorder (like alcohol and tobacco use), and refers you for treatment if needed. If you have a current opioid prescription, they also review your risk for opioid use disorder, check your pain level and treatment plan, tell you about non-opioid options, and refer you to a specialist if appropriate.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit
- An offer to talk about advance directives. Your provider offers to talk with you about creating advance directives. If you say yes, the next step is a legal document with two parts: a health care proxy, naming someone you trust to make health decisions for you, and a living will, describing which treatments you want if your life is threatened. Medicare covers the conversation itself as part of this visit.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Advance care planning coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 15, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/advance-care-planning
- A written plan and referrals. You leave with a written plan, like a checklist, of the screenings, vaccines, and other preventive services you need, plus referrals for other care as needed.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit
Apart from the BMI and the vision check, none of that is a hands-on exam. It's the doctor building a map of your health and handing you the directions. When you call to book, say you'd like your Welcome to Medicare preventive visit. Then bring your medical records (including immunization records), your family health history, and a list of every prescription drug, over-the-counter drug, vitamin, and supplement you take, with how often and why.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit Add your own questions, and you'll get a lot more out of the appointment.
Is the Welcome to Medicare Visit the Same as 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.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit
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 need to have had the Welcome visit to qualify for the yearly one, but your first Annual Wellness Visit can't take place within 12 months of your Part B enrollment or of your Welcome visit.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Preventive and screening services. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 8, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/preventive-screening-services Think of the Welcome visit as your on-ramp and the Annual Wellness Visit as the yearly tune-up that follows. Side by side:Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit,U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 410.15 — Annual wellness visits providing personalized prevention plan services. ecfr.gov. Retrieved Jul 11, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-410.15
| Welcome to Medicare visit | Annual Wellness Visit | |
|---|---|---|
| How often | Once, ever | Once every 12 months |
| When | Within the first 12 months of Part B | After your first 12 months of Part B |
| Centers on | History review, BMI, vision test, depression and substance-use risk review, written plan | A health risk questionnaire feeding a personalized prevention plan, with cognitive impairment detection |
| Your cost | $0 if the provider accepts assignment | $0 if the provider accepts assignment |
For the full breakdown of what the yearly visit covers, see our guide below.
If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare says the plan covers what Original Medicare does (except hospice), but most plans generally require in-network providers. Ask your plan what you'd pay for the visit and whether the office is in your network. See Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 8, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options/compare-original-medicare-medicare-advantage
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 outside that benefit (see the cost section above; the Part B deductible is $283 in 2026). If a bill shows up that doesn't look right, ask the provider's billing office whether the visit was billed as the Welcome to Medicare preventive visit, and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) if you can't sort it out.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Contact Medicare — Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 23, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/talk-to-someone,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles
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.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit This is the detail people miss most, so confirm your Part B start date before you plan around the deadline. Questions about your Part B coverage go to 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), which is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Contact Medicare — Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 23, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/talk-to-someone For free one-on-one counseling, your state's SHIP can help; find yours at shiphelp.org or call 1-877-839-2675.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). Medicare & You 2026 (CMS publication 10050, medicare.gov). medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 15, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf
Will the doctor examine me or run tests?
Not in the way a routine physical would. Beyond a BMI calculation and a simple vision test, the visit is a structured review of your history, risks, and preventive needs that ends with a written plan, not a comprehensive physical exam.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit If you have an active symptom you want checked, book a separate appointment for it. Asking for a routine physical at this visit can cost you, because if Medicare doesn't cover an added service like that, you may have to pay the full amount.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit
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 your first Annual Wellness Visit can't take place within 12 months of your Part B enrollment or of your Welcome visit.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Preventive and screening services. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 8, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/preventive-screening-services 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
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