New preventive health services for women now required of insurers

Effective August 1, 2012, many insurers are now required to cover eight prevention-related health services for woman at no cost. The eight new covered services are:

• 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.

Previously some insurance companies did not cover these preventive services or women had to pay deductibles or copays for these services. The new rules in the health care law requiring coverage of these services take effect at the next renewal date (on or after August 1, 2012) for most health insurance plans.

For more information: Health care law gives women control over their care, offers free preventive services to 47 million women