Good news for women: Recent changes to the Affordable Care Act will expand access to essential services. This is especially important considering that women are more likely to need preventive health services, yet are less likely to be able to pay for those services because they have a lower average income than men. More than half of women delayed or avoided needed care because of cost, according to a 2009 report by the Commonwealth Fund. This is a serious concern, since chronic diseases are responsible for 7 of 10 American deaths and account for 75% of the nation’s health spending, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
The Affordable Care Act has recently made much needed preventive care more affordable for women by eliminating cost sharing for many services and requiring coverage by insurers. Policies beginning or renewing on or after August 1, 2012 are required to include the following new additional preventive services for women:
- Well-woman visits
- Contraception and contraception counseling (with exceptions for religious employers and alternatives for women working for those employers)
- HPV DNA testing
- Gestational diabetes screening
- Sexually transmitted infection counseling
- Breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling
- Interpersonal and domestic violence screening and counseling
- HIV screening and counseling
These changes under the ACA will likely make a huge impact in helping low-income and racial and ethnic minorities obtain the services they need. Women I n these demographics statistically have higher rate of disease and reduced access to care. All women deserve equal treatment options, and the ACA will help make that a reality.
There is no better time than the present to take advantage of the expanded coverage options available under the Affordable Care Act. A licensed health insurance agent can help you understand your options, and the agents at Benefit Packages have been helping individuals and employer groups obtain California health insurance with reputable companies like Blue Shield of California for over two decades. Call Benefit Packages for more information, or visit our website for a quote.