Expansion of Prevention Coverage for Women's Health and Well-Being!

Affordable Care Act Expands Prevention Coverage for Women’s Health and Well-Being in Eight Areas as of August 1st, 2012/

The Affordable Care Act – the health insurance reform legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010 – helps make prevention affordable and accessible for all Americans by requiring health plans to cover preventive services and by eliminating cost sharing. Preventive services that have strong scientific evidence of their health benefits must be covered and plans can no longer charge a patient a copayment, coinsurance or deductible for these services when they are delivered by a network provider.

Beginning, August 1st, 2012, under the Affordable Care Act, women's  preventive health care – such as mammograms, screenings for cervical cancer, prenatal care, and other services – also  became covered with no cost sharing for new health plans. The eight new areas are listed in the chart below and will ensure that women receive a comprehensive set of preventive services without having to pay a co-payment, co-insurance or a deductible.

Type of Preventive Service	HHS Guideline for Health Insurance Coverage	Frequency
Well-woman visits.	Well-woman preventive care visit annually for adult women to obtain the recommended preventive services that are age and developmentally appropriate, including preconception and prenatal care. This well-woman visit should, where appropriate, include other preventive services listed in this set of guidelines, as well as others referenced in section 2713.	Annual, although HHS recognizes that several visits may be needed to obtain all necessary recommended preventive services, depending on a woman’s health status, health needs, and other risk factors.* (see note)
Screening for gestational diabetes.	Screening for gestational diabetes.	In pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation and at the first prenatal visit for pregnant women identified to be at high risk for diabetes.
Human papillomavirus testing.	High-risk human papillomavirus DNA testing in women with normal cytology results.	Screening should begin at 30 years of age and should occur no more frequently than every 3 years.
Counseling for sexually transmitted infections.	Counseling on sexually transmitted infections for all sexually active women.	Annual.
Counseling and screening for human immune-deficiency virus.	Counseling and screening for human immune-deficiency virus infection for all sexually active women.	Annual.
Contraceptive methods and counseling. ** (see note)	All Food and Drug Administration approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity.	As prescribed.
Breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling.	Comprehensive lactation support and counseling, by a trained provider during pregnancy and/or in the postpartum period, and costs for renting breastfeeding equipment.	In conjunction with each birth.
Screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence.	Screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence.	Annual.