By Justine Shum, MSIV

The Affordable Care Act has been getting a lot of negative press lately due to problems with its Marketplace website, but we remain hopeful that it will improve access to healthcare. The Affordable Care Act has made a lot of changes for women, particularly by increasing coverage of preventive services. With 2014 quickly approaching, here is a review of the expanded coverage that is specific to women:

Now:
  • 20.4 million women with private health insurance gained expanded coverage of preventive services including mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, prenatal care, flu and pneumonia shots, and regular well-baby and well-child visits
  •  Many health plans now provide full coverage of other preventive services including well-woman visits, screening for gestational diabetes, domestic violence screening, breastfeeding supplies and contraceptive services
  •  24.7 million women with Medicare received coverage of preventive services including an annual well visit, personalized prevention plan, mammograms, and bone mass measurement if at risk for osteoporosis
  •  Women between ages 19 and 25 who would have been uninsured now have coverage under their parent’s employer-sponsored or individually purchased health insurance plan

Coming up in 2014 & Beyond
  • Insurance companies in the individual and small group markets will no longer be permitted to charge higher rates due to gender or health status
  • An estimated 13.6 million women who would otherwise be uninsured will gain health coverage by 2016
  •  An estimated 8.7 million women who currently pay for individual insurance will gain coverage for maternity services

Resources
For a full list of preventive services covered under the Affordable Care Act:




 
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