The Affordable Care Act, also popularly known as Obamacare, enacted widespread health reform. Among other things, it mandated free preventive services.
If you enrolled through one of the health exchange plans or have a private insurance policy beginning on or after September 23, 2010, then these preventive services are required to be provided to you without having to pay a co-pay, co-insurance, or meet a deductible. While many people know that flu shots are a preventive service, they might not have known that they can obtain them free of charge.
Here are 10 preventive services you might not have known about that are covered under the Affordable Care Act free of charge:
- Alcohol Misuse Counseling
If you are in need of alcohol misuse screening and/or counseling, there are different benefits you are able to receive coverage for. Take action by talking to your doctor or by finding a treatment center nearest you through the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration website.
- Aspirin
You might not think about aspirin being something that you can obtain though coverage, but it is. Aspirin is something that is for men and women of certain ages, but it can help with all sorts of different medical issues. Due to this, it is a good idea to utilize your coverage and obtain aspirin for your required needs. Men aged 49 to 79 and women aged 55 to 79 may qualify to have their aspirin covered under the Affordable Care Act. Talk with your doctor before implementing and beginning an aspirin regimen.
- Depression
Depression is a serious condition and is something that needs to be addressed with professional help. If you think you might be suffering from depression, the Affordable Care Act covers depression screenings for adults. Talk with your doctor or find a mental health service near you through the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration website.
- HIV
HIV screenings for adults who are at higher risk for contracting the infection are available and covered through the preventative services. It is important to protect yourself against HIV and to know about your sexual health so these screenings are important, and you should take advantage of them. If you think you are at risk or are part of an at-risk population, talk to your doctor about HIV testing, or find a local testing site on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website.
- Obesity
It can be difficult for many individuals to deal with obesity, and simply knowing what can be done is not always that easy. That is exactly why obesity screening and counseling is available and covered through the Affordable Care Act. Speak to your doctor about screenings, as well as a counseling plan to lose weight in a health manner and maintain a healthy well-balanced diet.
- Tobacco Use
Tobacco use is a major health problem inside of the United States, so if you are suffering with tobacco use and want to quit, the Affordable Care Act provides cessation interventions for adults at high risks. Speak with your doctor about proper ways to quit smoking. Some services to help people quit smoking may be covered under the Affordable Care Act.
- Mammography
Breast cancer screenings are available every one to two years for women over the age of 40, and there is counseling available for women who are at higher risk as well.
- Autism and Behavioral Problems
Autism screenings are available for children between the ages of 18 and 24 months. There are also assessments for children of different ages, ranging from newborns all the way to 17. These screenings are covered during well-child checkups, 7 visits that are preferred between ages 1 and 4.
- Immunizations
There are all sorts of different immunizations covered for both adults and children. Some of these immunizations include tetanus, pertussis, diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, measles, mumps, rubella, and influenza (also known as a flu shot). There are other shots that are available for individuals beyond these most common ones.
- STIs
Immunizations, screenings, and other services for various sexually transmitted infections exist, including syphilis and gonorrhea, on top of the already mentioned HIV. Counseling is also available for sexually active adults and at-risk populations.
