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Moms: Your Family's Medical Costs Are Covered

Written by The Home Economist

Wednesday, 19 October 2011 20:56

Your Doctor Keeps You Healthy -- Fully Covered, No Co-pay

To welcome us to cold and flu season, President Barack Obama has forced our health insurance companies to cover the cost of the the medical services that prevent us from getting sick in the first place. And on top of that, he's told our doctors they can't even charge us a co-pay - insurance has to cover the whole service. And on top of that, the deal includes preventive services that span way beyond our winter colds. So while sure it includes your family's flu shots it also encompasses mammograms for women over Jennifer Aniston particpates in a discussion about the Affordable Health Care Act. PHOTO: CHRIS SMITH FOR HHS. age 40, child immunizations, and depression for people of all ages. (Please see the list below.)

The thinking goes, it's cheaper for everyone - but mostly us - if we can simply keep our families healthy. And that if we're asked to pay $20 or $40 or $60 when we're feeling fine, we're much more likely to take our chances and see what the future holds.

But to get 100 percent preventive coverage there is of course a catch: you may have to change insurance plans. If you keep your current carrier then everyone assumes you're happy - and you may very well be, as many big plans already cover these costs. The new rule applies only to new plans. But keep this in mind: if your insurance company reduces your policy's benefits or it charges you more money, the president is calling it a new plan. Even if the name is exactly the same - so there.

PREVENTIVE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN

Health Topic	What's Covered
Alcohol and drug use	Assessments for adolescents
Autism	Screening for children at 18 months and 24 months
Behavioral	Assessments for children of all ages
Blood pressure	Screening for children
Cervical dysplasia	Screening for sexually active females
Developmental	Screening for children under age 3 and surveillance throughout childhood
Dyslipidemia	Screening for children at higher risk of lipid disorders
Fluoride chemoprevention	Supplements for children without fluoride in their water sources
Gonorrhea	Preventive medicine for the eyes of all newborns
Hearing	Screening for all newborns
Height, weight, and body mass index	Measurements for children
Hematocrit or hemoglobin	Screening for children
Hemoglobinopathies	sickle cell screening for newborns
HIV	Screening for adolescents at higher risk
Immunization	Vaccines for children from birth to age 18 including: Diptheria, tetanus, pertussis Haemophilus influenzae type b Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Human papillomavirus Inactivated poliovirus Influenza (flu) Measles, mumps, rubella Meningococcal Pneumococcal Rotavirus Varicella (chickenpox)
Iron	Supplements for children ages 6 months to 1 year at risk for anemia
Lead	Screening for children at risk of exposure
Medical history	For all children throughout development
Obesity	Screening and counseling
Oral health	Risk assessment for young children
Phenylketonuria	Screening for this genetic disorder in newborns
Sexually transmitted infection	Prevention counseling and screening for adolescents at higher risk
Tuberculin	Testing for children at higher risk of tuberculosis
Vision	Screening for all children

source: US Department of Health and Human Services

PREVENTIVE SERVICES FOR WOMEN

Heath Topic	What's Covered
Anemia	Screening on a routine basis for pregnant women
Bacteriuria	Urinary tract or other infection screening for pregnant women
BRCA	Counseling about genetic testing for women at higher risk
Breast cancer mammography	Screenings every 1 to 2 years for women over age 4o.
Breast cancer chemoprevention	Counseling for women at higher risk
Breast feeding	Programs (interventions) to support breast feeding.
Cervical cancer	Screening for sexually active women
Chlamydia infection	Screening for younger women and other women at higher risk
Folic acid	Supplements for women who may become pregnant
Gonorrhea	Screening for all women at higher risk
Hepatitis B	Screening for pregnant women at their first prenatal visit
Osteoporosis	Screening for women over age 60 depending on risk factors
Rh Incompatibility	Screening for all pregnant women and follow-up testing for women at higher risk
Tobacco use	Screening and interventions for all women and expanded counseling for pregnant tobacco users
Syphilis	Screening for all pregnant women or other women at increased risk