To maximize the value of the Medicare health plan, individuals can take advantage of a full range of services including free annual wellness visits and preventative services.

Annual Wellness Visits allow patients and their physician to create a complete personal and family health history and preventative screenings help prevent future health problems.

“Medicare Annual Wellness Visits and preventative screenings are incredibly important because the more a person knows about their own health, the more likely they are to become their own advocate and make necessary lifestyle adjustments to maintain their health,” said Tina Neuendank, APNP, a family nurse practitioner with Ascension Medical Group at Westwood in Wausau.
Medicare covers a variety of preventative services without any additional out-of-pocket costs, including screenings for cardiovascular disease, cervical cancer, depression, diabetes, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, mammograms and obesity screening and counseling.

“Medicare preventative services allow patients to find problems early when treatment is most effective and to get and wellness care they need to help them stay healthy and lead productive lives,” said Neuendank.

Additionally, services covered through Medicare Part B preventative services include tobacco cessation counseling, flu shots and hepatitis B shots and nutrition therapy services. For a full list, visit the Medicare website at Medicare.gov.

For more information, please contact Ascension Medical Group at 715-355-9775 or visit ascension.org/wisconsin.