Author: Christina Mulkey, DNP, AGNP-C
At Geriatric and Family Medicine Associates, we are a privately owned primary care practice offering integrated care for every adult life stage. Whether you are 18 or 118, our goal is to provide a medical home where you feel comfortable, listened to, and understood. We take a whole-patient approach focusing on prevention and staying well while developing a sustained partnership with our patients.
Why is this so important right now? It's the beginning of January, and most health insurance plans reset at the beginning of the calendar year. You will again have to meet the fixed deductible before your health insurance begins paying for your care. The good news is that most insurance plans do not require you to meet your deductible for preventative care. This means certain services, tests, and screenings will be covered such as your annual wellness visit. An annual wellness visit is a yearly appointment where you and your primary care provider (PCP) create or update your personalized prevention plan. Our PCPs are on a mission to help you stay healthy with regular checkups and immunizations.
So, what can you expect during an annual wellness visit? Some services may include:
- Routine measurements such as your height, weight, and blood pressure
- Blood work and urinalysis
- Hands-on physical exam, if covered by your specific insurance plan
- Health risk assessments such as risk factor questionnaires.
- Screening for the ability to perform normal daily activities (such as bathing and dressing) and your level of safety at home.
- Learning about your medical and family history
- Reviewing your current providers, durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers, and medications
- Creating a written 5-10 year screening schedule or check-list
- Screening for cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer's and dementia
- Screening for depression
- Providing health advice and referrals to a health coach and preventive counseling services aimed at reducing identified risk factors
We accept all major insurances, including Medicaid, Medicare, United Health Care, Humana, Cigna, Aetna, and Elevance (formerly known as Anthem). We accept some other smaller plans, too, so call us to see if we take yours!
As your local primary care provider, we pride ourselves in our caring spirit, empathy, and old-fashioned bedside manner. Practicing medicine is not just a job, but a calling. Please feel free to stop by our clinic anytime and introduce yourself! One of our caring staff members will welcome you and answer any questions you have. Call us today at 303-742-0086 to set up your annual wellness visit and start on a path of health and wellness in 2023.