New rules are coming out that specify which preventive services will be a free part of health insurance and health plans under the new health law.
Among them are cancer screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies, as well as immunizations, blood pressure screenings, obesity prevention and tobacco cessation. These services are to be free to consumers without a copayment or other direct cost after September 23. Consumers who stick with their existing health insurance plan, however, will not benefit from the changes.
Despite heavy lobbying from Planned Parenthood, birth control does not currently qualify as preventive under these regulations. However, the organization is pushing to have it included in future regulation.
Free preventive services as a standard part of health insurance is among the benefits being touted to show consumers that there are tangible benefits to the health insurance reform legislation.
According to the White House, Americans tend to use preventive services about half as often as recommended because of cost. Chronic diseases, often preventable, are responsible for 7 of 10 deaths among Americans each year and account for 75 percent of the nation’s health spending.
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