Affordable Health Insurance

More Good News for Women’s Affordable Health Insurance

August 8th, 2011

America has been divided in their view of the health care reform since it was signed into law in March 2010. Some groups believe that this will work to their benefit and answer their long-term medical and insurance problems but to some, the reform will just make things worse.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has more good news for women. The institute of medicine has added new guidelines to women’s preventive care coverage. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced last week, August 1st the detailed guidelines of additional health and insurance benefits that women can take advantage of without having to pay a portion of the cost. The additional coverage including contraception, sterilization procedures and more screening for HIV without having to pay co-payments and all of which are approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
The following are the additional health insurance benefits that can be expected from the health care reform:

• screening and counseling for domestic violence
• screening and counseling for HIV
• screening for gestational diabetes
• counseling for sexually transmitted diseases
• support for breastfeeding including counseling and supplies
• well-woman visit

All these benefits need to be added to women’s affordable health insurance policies beginning August 1, 2012. However these benefits will not apply to grandfathered health insurance plans.

The health care reform means that birth control will be free. This has sparked much criticism from religious groups and pro-life groups. But HHS has issued an amendment so that religious employers offering health care benefits to their employees will not be required to offer contraception to their employees. Americans whose religious belief are against the use of contraception can choose to forgo this added provision. Religious employers will be exempt from the mandate of offering this provision to their employees. The benefits of birth control will be debatable depending on your personal conviction but it will mean less expense for the government who bear the cost of unplanned pregnancies.

The added benefits to women’s preventive care has the potential to improve women’s health without costing them so much. It can protect women from acquiring diseases or further developing them like diabetes, cervical cancer and sexually transmitted diseases. The benefits even extend to the babies because it promotes breastfeeding which is medically proven to be healthy for both babies and mothers.

Though debates continue one thing is for sure, this will be greatly improve women’s health and well-being. Here’s something to look forward to.