Forty-seven million women are no longer on the hook for common preventative care services thanks to new health reform guidelines that went into effect Wednesday.
“President Obama is moving our country forward by giving women control over their health care,” Dept. of Health and Human Services Secretary Katherine Sebelius said in a statement. “This law puts women and their doctors, not insurance companies or the government, in charge of health care decisions.”
Here's what most insurers will now cover:
- Well-woman visits.
- Gestational diabetes screening that helps protect pregnant women from one of the most serious pregnancy-related diseases.
- Domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling.
- FDA-approved contraceptive methods, and contraceptive education and counseling.
- Breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling.
- HPV DNA testing, for women 30 or older.
- Sexually transmitted infections counseling for sexually-active women.
- HIV screening and counseling for sexually-active women.
Under the new rules, most insurers will have to offer these procedures with no copay, including additional screenings and tests.
That doesn't mean every insurer has to comply. Certain religious or church-backed insurers are still allowed to side-step the regulations, and group health plans that have 'grandfathered status' aren't included either. Be sure to check with your provider before heading to the doctor or visit http://www.healthcare.gov/prevention
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