Contraceptives Free Next Year
Under Health-Care Reform Insurance Coverage for Contraception Is Required – NYT; The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an arm of HHS, developed the women’s services package to implement the preventive health services provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA).
Federal recommended that major medical plans should include coverage for:
- well-woman visits
- contraception
- screening for the viruses that cause AIDS and human papillomavirus
- breast-feeding support in the basic package of preventive health services benefits.
Health plans must roll this out by Aug 1, 2012. These are in accordance with the preventive care provisions enacted in the Reform Law. Agencies are determining what falls into this category and have amended this provision, see here. While states such as NY already have these benefits built into their plan at no charge the medications are presently not free.
The contraception coverage requirement applies to drugs and devices approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration.
Exemption to religious organizations will be made available. This can be done at renewal time by groups’ broker. Unfortunately, non group individual policies will not allow for this exemption.
While this is a noble reccomendation, this is not as significant to NY and neighboring states. Some argue that the costs will indeed rise even in our region since the Rx will be free. Also, some consumers who currently purchasing supplies over the counter will tap into this free benefit.
Conclusion, not exactly a cost cutting decision as promised by the President to lower medical expenses but he did win over half the voters in time for next election!