ALBANY, N.Y. - A new phase of the Affordable Care Act will take effect Wednesday, requiring new insurance plans to cover a host of women's preventive health care services, including birth control with no co-pays or deductibles.
Health insurers will now be required to provide eight preventative services to women nationwide for free, including the most controversial change of free contraception for many women.
New York State had already eliminated co-pays for family planning patients who qualify for Medicaid or who pay on a sliding fee scale based on income. Now, women with insurance will also be able to obtain preventive services without fees.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services the new women's health care requirements will affect around 47 million Americans. It requires insurance companies to provide FDA approved contraceptives to women at no cost, meaning no co-pay or deductable.
Other than contraception, the law requires new private insurance to cover basic preventive care without any out-of-pocket cost, including birth control, cancer screenings, well-woman visits, counseling for sexually transmitted diseases, breastfeeding support and supplies and domestic violence counseling.
Many of the changes depend on the individual's health care provider, and women should check with their insurance companies if their plan is impacted by the changes.
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