Experient Health Explains Health Care Reform and Women's Preventative Care in Latest Blog Post
Richmond, VA (PRWEB) June 13, 2014 -- The health care reform law requires health plans to cover certain preventive care services for participants without any cost-sharing, such as deductibles, copayments or coinsurance. This requirement includes additional preventive care for women, Experient Health wrote in its latest edition of its Blog series to help the community better understand changes in coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
Experient Health, the health insurance arm of the Virginia Farm Bureau, has benefits consultants in every county in Virginia and are experts in health care reform. They feature an online health insurance quote engine and in their blog work to help the community live well to work well.
Under the health care reform law, more types of preventive care must be provided at no cost to women than to men. This is because women have unique health needs and higher rates of chronic disease, such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke, Experient Health wrote.
What Is Covered?
Health plans must cover certain additional preventive services with no copay, coinsurance or deductible for the patient. The following items are included in this coverage:
• Well-woman visits (annual preventive care visit in which adult women obtain recommended preventive services)
• Gestational diabetes screening for women 24 to 28 weeks pregnant, and women at high risk
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for women 30 and older, once every 3 years
• Annual counseling for HIV and sexually transmitted infections, plus annual HIV testing for all sexually active women
• Contraceptives and contraceptive counseling. (Certain religious employers, such as churches, are not required to cover contraceptives)
• Breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling
• Domestic violence screening and counseling
"Be sure to check your plan’s specific rules before receiving care," Experient Health advised. "The preventive care rules do not apply to health plans that have 'grandfathered' status under the health care reform law."
Though plans are required to provide these services free of charge, they do have the option of using cost-control measures, such as requiring patients pay for a brand name drug if a comparable generic drug is available, or charging a copayment for preventive services received at out-of-network facilities.
Questions? Contact an Exerpient Health benefits consultant today.
Stephanie Heinatz, Consociate Media, http://www.consociatemedia.com, +1 757.713.2199, [email protected]
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