I have a wonderful family doctor and she just ordered a bunch of preventative tests for me. I asked if they would be covered before my deductible (its high) and she said she really did not know. I called my insurance carrier and they said I should ask my doctor. Does anyone know what is on the list of services that went into effect with the Affordable Care Act? I did some research, and here is a partial list. I am not including children and pregnant women because their list is a lot longer. There are a lot of screening tests including:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: one-time screening for men of specified ages who have ever smoked
Alcohol Misuse: Screening and counseling
Aspirin: Talk with your doctor about taking aspirin every day (depends on age)
Blood Pressure: Get your blood pressure checked
Cholesterol: Have a cholesterol check if you are an adult of a certain age or at higher risk
Colorectal Cancer: Screening for adults over age 50. Does include periodic colonoscopies
Depression: Talk with your doctor about depression
Diabetes, Type 2: Screening for adults with high blood pressure, and counseling on how to prevent
Diet: Counseling for adults at higher risk for chronic diseases
HIV: Screening for adults at high risk
Immunizations: vaccines for adults (doses, recommended ages, and recommendation populations vary):
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Herpes Zoster (shingles)
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Influenza (flu)
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
- Meningococcal
- Pneumococcal
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis
- Varicella (chickenpox)
Obesity: screening and counseling for all adults
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI): prevention counseling
Syphilis: screening for adults at high risk
Tobacco Use: screening for all adults and help quitting (cessation interventions) for tobacco users
Well Women Visits: you should not have to pay for your appointment to get the following ordered/done:
- Breast Cancer Mammography: screening every 1 to 2 years for women over age 40
- Cervical Cancer: Exam and PAP smears for sexually active women
- Chlamydia Infection: Screening for younger women and other women at higher risk
- Contraception: FDA – Approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, patient education and counseling
- Gonorrhea: Screening for all women at high risk
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA Test: High risk HPV DNA testing every three years for women with normal cytology results who are 30 or older
- Osteoporosis: Screening for women over age 60 depending on risk factors
A few notes and disclaimers:
- These are preventative screening tests. Once you have been diagnosed with something, a follow-up test does not mean free.
- They are only screening tests. If something is found, the test my no longer be “free.”
- Your insurance carrier will decide what you have to pay for. If you disagree, you may always file an appeal.
- The above list is not comprehensive and there may be exceptions and fine print.