Between co-pays and coinsurance costs, it sometimes seems like healthcare insurance offers no free benefits. But if you read the fine print carefully, you may find that a lot of benefits are offered at no additional costs.
Preventative Care
All insurance plans available under the Affordable Care Act (often known as Obamacare) are required to include preventative care services. Most of these are free, provided that you receive treatment from a doctor, clinic, or hospital covered in your plan’s network.
Free preventative services for adults include:
- 1 test for men who smoke for an abdominal aortic aneurism
- Testing and counseling for alcohol-related issues
- Aspirin for adults who are at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases
- Blood pressure testing
- Cholesterol testing for certain adults
- Depression testing
- Diabetes Type 2 testing for adults with elevated blood pressure
- Diet counseling for some adults
- Hepatitis B testing for qualifying people
- Hepatitis C testing for adults born between 1945-1965, and certain other individuals
- HIV testing for anyone age 15-65
- Vaccinations for Diphtheria, Hepatitis A and B, Herpes, HPV, Flu, Measles, Meningococcal, Mumps, Pertussis, Pneumococcal, Rubella, Tetanus, and Varicella (Chickenpox)
- Lung cancer testing for adults aged 55-80
- Obesity testing and counseling
- Sexual Transmitted Infection counseling for certain adults
- Syphilis testing for certain qualifying men
- Tobacco Use testing and cessation aids
In addition, women benefit from the following free preventative care services:
- Regular testing for anemia
- Breastfeeding support and counseling for pregnant and nursing women
- FDA-approved contraception (except for plans offered by religious employers)
- Folic acid supplements
- Gestational diabetes testing for women 24-28 weeks pregnant
- Gonorrhea testing for qualifying women
- 1 Hepatitis B test for pregnant women
- Rh Incompatibility testing for pregnant women
- Syphilis testing
- Supplemental tobacco cessation counseling and aids for pregnant smokers
- Urinary tract infection testing
- Breast cancer genetic tests for certain women
- Mammography every 1-2 years for women over 40
- Breast cancer chemoprevention counseling for certain women
- Cervical cancer testing
- Chlamydia testing for certain women
- Domestic violence counseling
- HIV testing and counseling
- HPV testing every three years
- Osteoporosis testing for women over age 60
- Well-woman visits for women under age 65
Children are also covered by specific free preventative care services, including:
- Alcohol and drug use testing for teenagers
- Autism testing for children age 18-24 months
- Behavioral assessments
- Blood pressure testing
- Cervical dysplasia testing for girls
- Depression testing for teenagers
- Developmental testing for children under age three
- Testing for lipid disorders
- Fluoride supplements
- Gonorrhea medication for newborns
- Hearing tests for newborns
- BMI testing
- Hematocrit/hemoglobin testing
- Sickle Cell testing for newborns
- HIV testing for certain teenagers
- Hypothyroidism testing for newborns
- Vaccines for: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus influenza type B, Hepatitis A and B, PVU, Polio, Flu, Measles, Meningitis, Pneumococcus, Rotavirus, and Varicella (Chickenpox)
- Iron supplements for certain children age 6-12 months
- Lead testing for certain children
- Obesity testing and counseling
- Oral Health testing for children age newborn-10 years old
- Phenylketonuria testing for newborns
- Sexually Transmitted Infection testing and counseling for certain teenagers
- Tuberculosis testing for certain children
- Vision testing
Again, it’s important to note that these services are only provided free when received from an in-network doctor or healthcare provider.