Do Obamacare ACA Insurance Plans Cover Preventative Care?

For many individuals, doing their annual preventative checkup is very important to them. If you recently lost insurance from a former employer, you may be used to preventative services being covered at no charge. Folks in this situation may ask if these screenings will continued to be covered?

All ACA (affordable care act/Obamacare) policies are required to cover 10 “minimal essential health benefits.” They are as follows,

1. Laboratory Services
   Tests to diagnose, checkup on routine work, and some preventative.
2. Preventive Services
   Including physicals, mammograms', colorectal cancer screenings, lipids tests, and immunization vaccines.
3. Hospitalization
   Inpatient hospital stay, treatments, doctor visits, and other services provided due to hospital admission.
4. Mental Health & Addiction
   Behavioral health, therapy, and other detox programs.
5. Pregnancy & Newborn Care
   Delivery, complications, doctor visits. etc.
6. Ambulatory Patient Services
   Outpatient care (not being admitted into the hospital).
7. Pediatric Services
   Coverage for well-child visits, vaccinations, and immunizations.
8. RX Drugs
   Categorized approved prescription drugs.
9. Rehabilitative Services
   Therapy to help treat and/or recover from a injury or disability.
10. Emergency Services
    Life threatening and life altering emergencies.

As you can see, Preventative services are required to be covered under Obamacare policies. This is good news because it allows you to stay up to date on age recommended testing, immunizations, and so on.

Better yet, most of these plans will cover preventative services at a $0 copay! Looks like its time to make another doctor appointment.