Medicare’s Yearly Depression Screening and Wellness Visit: What They Include
Original Medicare covers one depression screening a year, plus a "Welcome to Medicare" visit and yearly wellness visits, at no cost to you when your provider accepts assignment. These visits are a good chance to raise mood, worry, sleep or memory concerns. A screening is not a diagnosis or a treatment plan, though. If it's positive, or if something still feels wrong, the next step is a full evaluation.
The Yearly Depression Screening
Medicare Part B covers one depression screening per year for everyone with Part B. Key details:
Where: a primary care setting, such as a doctor's office, that can provide follow-up treatment or referrals
Cost: nothing, if the provider accepts assignment
What it is: usually a short questionnaire about mood, interest, sleep, energy and concentration over the past two weeks. Many offices use the PHQ-2 or PHQ-9.
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening all adults for depression, including older adults.
The "Welcome to Medicare" Visit
In your first 12 months with Part B, Medicare covers a one-time preventive visit. It includes a review of your medical history, a review of your potential risk for depression, and a written checklist of the screenings and vaccines you need. It costs nothing if the provider accepts assignment.
The Yearly Wellness Visit
After that, Medicare covers a yearly wellness visit. Your first one can't take place within 12 months of starting Part B or of your Welcome visit. It includes:
A review of your medical history and current prescriptions
A cognitive assessment to look for early signs of memory problems or dementia
A written prevention plan
A review of risk for substance use
If the cognitive assessment raises concerns, Medicare covers a separate visit for a fuller review, which includes screening for dementia, depression, anxiety and delirium.
One caution: the wellness visit is not a full physical exam. If extra tests or services are done at the same visit, you may owe coinsurance, or the full amount for services Medicare doesn't cover.
What These Visits Don't Do
A screening flags who might need a closer look. It doesn't:
Diagnose depression, anxiety or another condition
Sort out whether symptoms come from mood, medications, sleep, thyroid or memory changes
Adjust or review psychiatric medications in depth
Replace care when symptoms are already affecting daily life
Anxiety in particular may be missed. The Task Force found too little evidence to recommend routine anxiety screening for adults 65 and older, so it's worth raising directly. See our guide Anxiety in Older Adults.
If the Screening Is Positive
A positive screen usually leads to a longer conversation, a fuller questionnaire, a look at medications and medical causes, and a plan. Original Medicare Part B also covers ongoing outpatient mental health care, including psychiatric evaluations, medication management and therapy, in person or by telehealth. After the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. A Medigap plan may cover some or all of that.
You don't need a positive screening to ask for help. If you or a family member has noticed changes in mood, sleep, appetite, interest or memory, reach out.
How to Make the Most of the Visit
Bring a full medication list, including over-the-counter sleep aids and supplements.
Write down changes you've noticed, with rough dates: sleep, appetite, energy, interest, worry, memory.
Be honest on the questionnaire. Many people underreport to seem "fine."
Bring a family member if memory or mood is the concern, with your permission.
Ask directly: "Could this be depression or anxiety? What would you suggest next?"
How Welmivia Can Help
Welmivia is a participating Medicare practice. Dr. Diaz, a psychiatrist, sees adults with Original Medicare located in Virginia or Florida by video. That includes people whose screening was positive and people who just don't feel like themselves. An evaluation looks at mood, anxiety, sleep and memory alongside every medication, and Dr. Diaz coordinates with the primary care physician. We are not able to see patients with Medicare Advantage or Medicaid. For Medicare choices, Virginia residents can contact VICAP and Florida residents SHINE.
To check coverage or ask about a first visit, call 434-623-0003 or use our Medicare request form. See also Does Original Medicare Cover Psychiatric Care by Video?
What to Take Away
Original Medicare covers a yearly depression screening and wellness visits at no cost when the provider accepts assignment.
These visits flag concerns; they don't diagnose or treat them.
If a screening is positive, or something feels off, ask for a full evaluation; Part B covers ongoing mental health care.
Welmivia is not a crisis service. If someone is in danger, call 911. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988.
Sources
Medicare.gov. Depression screenings. Accessed October 1, 2026.
Medicare.gov. "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. Accessed October 1, 2026.
Medicare.gov. Yearly "Wellness" visits. Accessed October 1, 2026.
Medicare.gov. Mental health care (outpatient). Accessed October 1, 2026.
Medicare.gov. Medicare costs. Accessed October 1, 2026.
US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for depression and suicide risk in adults. 2023.
US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for anxiety disorders in adults. 2023.
This guide is general information, not medical advice for your situation.
