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Preventive Services Covered Under the Affordable Care Act

Women's Health Policy

If you have a new health insurance plan or insurance policy beginning on or after September 23, 2010, the following preventive services must be covered without you being required to pay a co-payment or coinsurance or meet your deductible. This applies only when these services are delivered by a network provider.

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm: one-time screening for men of specified ages who have ever smoked
  • Alcohol misuse: screening and counseling
  • Aspirin: use for men and women of certain ages
  • Blood pressure: screening for all adults
  • Cholesterol: screening for adults of certain ages or at higher risk
  • Colorectal cancer: screening for adults over 50
  • Depression: screening for adults
  • Type 2 diabetes: screening for adults with high blood pressure
  • Diet: counseling for adults at higher risk for chronic disease
  • HIV: screening for all adults at higher risk
  • Immunization: vaccines for adults—doses, recommended ages and recommended populations vary:
    • Hepatitis A
    • Hepatitis B
    • Herpes zoster
    • Human papillomavirus
    • Influenza (flu shot)
    • Measles, mumps, rubella
    • Meningococcal
    • Pneumococcal
    • Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis
    • Varicella
  • Obesity: screening and counseling for all adults
  • Sexually transmitted infection (STI): prevention counseling for adults at higher risk
  • Tobacco use: screening for all adults and cessation interventions for tobacco users
  • Syphilis: screening for all adults at higher risk

  • Anemia: screening on a routine basis for pregnant women
  • Bacteriuria: urinary tract or other infection screening for pregnant women
  • BRCA: counseling about genetic testing for women at higher risk
  • Breast cancer mammography: screenings every one to two years for women over 40
  • Breast cancer chemoprevention: counseling for women at higher risk
  • Breastfeeding: comprehensive support and counseling from trained providers, as well as access to breastfeeding supplies, for pregnant and nursing women*
  • Cervical cancer: screening for sexually active women
  • Chlamydia infection: screening for younger women and other women at higher risk
  • Contraception: Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling, not including abortifacient drugs*
  • Domestic and interpersonal violence: screening and counseling for all women*
  • Folic acid: supplements for women who may become pregnant
  • Gestational diabetes: screening for women 24 to 28 weeks pregnant and those at high risk of developing gestational diabetes*
  • Gonorrhea: screening for all women at higher risk
  • Hepatitis B: screening for pregnant women at their first prenatal visit
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): screening and counseling for sexually active women*
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test: high-risk HPV DNA testing every three years for women with normal cytology results who are 30 or older*
  • Osteoporosis: screening for women over age 60 depending on risk factors
  • Rh incompatibility: screening for all pregnant women and follow-up testing for women at higher risk
  • Tobacco use: screening and interventions for all women, and expanded counseling for pregnant tobacco users
  • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): counseling for sexually active women*
  • Syphilis: screening for all pregnant women or other women at increased risk
  • Well-woman visits: to obtain recommended preventive services for women under 65*

* Must be covered with no cost-sharing in plan years starting on or after August 1, 2012.

  • Alcohol and drug use: assessments for adolescents
  • Autism: screening for children at 18 and 24 months
  • Behavioral: assessments for children of all ages
  • Blood pressure: screening for children
  • Cervical dysplasia: screening for sexually active females
  • Congenital hypothyroidism: screening for newborns
  • Depression: screening for adolescents
  • Developmental: screening for children under age 3, and surveillance throughout childhood
  • Dyslipidemia: screening for children at higher risk of lipid disorders
  • Fluoride chemoprevention: supplements for children without fluoride in their water source
  • Gonorrhea: preventive medication for the eyes of all newborns
  • Hearing: screening for all newborns
  • Height, weight and body mass index: measurements for children
  • Hematocrit or hemoglobin: screening for children
  • Hemoglobinopathies: or sickle cell screening for newborns
  • HIV: screening for adolescents at higher risk
  • Immunization: vaccines for children from birth to age 18—doses, recommended ages and recommended populations vary:
    • Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis
    • Haemophilus influenzae type b
    • Hepatitis A
    • Hepatitis B
    • Human papillomavirus
    • Inactivated poliovirus
    • Influenza (flu shot)
    • Measles, mumps, rubella
    • Meningococcal
    • Pneumococcal
    • Rotavirus
    • Varicella
  • Iron: supplements for children ages 6 to 12 months at risk for anemia
  • Lead: screening for children at risk of exposure
  • Medical history: for all children throughout development
  • Obesity: screening and counseling
  • Oral health: risk assessment for young children
  • Phenylketonuria (PKU): screening for this genetic disorder in newborns
  • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): prevention counseling and screening for adolescents at higher risk
  • Tuberculin: testing for children at higher risk of tuberculosis
  • Vision: screening for all children

To find out more, you may want to read:

Major Changes With Health Care Reform
More Options for Purchasing Insurance
Insurance Regulation Changes That May Affect You
A Perspective on Women and Health Care
Timeline for Health Care Reform Changes
Health Care Reform: Where to Learn More
Ask the Expert: How does the new health care reform act affect older women?
Ask the Expert: How do the new health reform laws affect low-income women?

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