Your Medicare checklist: 6 must-do's for a healthy year

January 27, 2026

As you age, it's even more important to stay on top of your health. Here are six things to do every year to keep your health on track.

1. Annual Wellness Visit: Medicare covers your Annual Wellness Visit with your primary care doctor. During this visit, your doctor will identify any health risks, create a personalized preventive care plan, and update your medical history. You can also ask your doctor any questions you have.
2. Cancer screenings: Mammograms, prostate cancer screenings and colon cancer screenings help detect cancer in its early stages, when it's more treatable. How often you need to get screens depends on what tests you need.
3. Important vaccines: Older adults are more susceptible to respiratory illnesses and to experiencing complications when they get sick. Make sure to get a flu shot, pneumonia shot and RSV shot when you need them.
4. Bone density test (osteoporosis screening): Medicare covers bone density tests for women 65 and older and men with a history of osteoporosis or certain medical conditions.
5. Depression screening: Even if you have never experienced depression before, getting older can increase your risk. Medicare covers depression screenings. Your mental health and physical health are connected. It’s important to take care of both of them.
6. Hearing and vision exams: Many Medicare Advantage plans cover hearing and vision services. Annual hearing and vision exams can help identify hearing and vision problems, such as age-related macular degeneration and hearing loss.

For more information about the preventive health services and screenings you need and ways to take care of your health as you age, visit FloridaBlue.com/Medicare/Preventive-Care.