Preventive Care Matters and is Often Covered at No Cost
Early Detection. Disease Prevention. Cost Savings. Improved Quality of Life.
Preventive care helps you spot health problems early, even before you see symptoms. Catching issues early can make treatment easier and boost your long-term health. Plus, many preventive services are already included in your health insurance benefits.
What Does “No Cost” Mean?
When you go to the doctor, you might be used to paying a copay, coinsurance or deductible. But preventive services are different! Under the Affordable Care Act, most health insurance plans must cover these services at no cost.
You may still have costs if:
- You use an out-of-network provider
- Your visit includes diagnostic care rather than preventive care
- Your health plan is grandfathered and not required to cover all preventive services
No in-network provider? If there isn't an in-network provider for a preventive service you need, your plan will usually cover it at no cost.
Check your specific plan. To see how your plan covers preventive care, contact them directly. Call member services (there is usually a toll-free number on the back of your insurance card). You can also log in to your member portal. Look for key words like "Benefits, Coverage, or Preventive Care" to find your plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage.
In-Person Sessions
Join us for in-depth information on women's preventive health services for every age and, how to get the most out of your existing healthcare plan benefits.
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Preventive Care Is Different from Diagnostic Care. Preventive care helps prevent illness or detect health conditions early. Diagnostic care looks into a specific symptom or checks an abnormal test result.
A service will only be billed as "preventive" if you don't have any active symptoms at the time. If the same test is used to monitor a condition or check a new symptom, it’s considered "diagnostic care" and your copay and/or deductible will apply.
Covered Preventive Services
These services for women are covered as preventive care by many health plans:
- Annual well-woman visits (annual check-ups)
- Mammograms for breast cancer screening
- Pap tests and HPV screening for cervical cancer
- Colorectal cancer screening
- Blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes screenings
- Anxiety and depression screening
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding support
- Birth control counseling and contraception
- STI and HIV screening
- Osteoporosis screening
- Tobacco cessation counseling
Easy Ways to Start
An annual check-up is a great place to start! Call your doctor to make an appointment. During your visit, they can recommend the screenings and preventive services that are right for you based on your age, medical history, and health needs.