Let’s be honest. Most of us don’t use everything our health plan offers. Life gets busy, and it’s easy to overlook benefits that could help us stay healthy and save money.
Here’s some good news. Most health plans (no matter the carrier or type — HMO, PPO, or HSA) include free preventive services. That’s right. No copay, no deductible, and no coinsurance when you visit an in-network provider.
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), these preventive services are covered at no cost to you. It’s one of the best perks your health plan provides, and one that’s worth using.
What’s Included?
The list of covered services is long, but here are some highlights you might recognize (and some you might not):
For Adults:
- Annual physicals and blood pressure screenings
- Cholesterol, diabetes, and cancer screenings (like colon or lung)
- Depression and alcohol misuse screenings
- Vaccines for flu, shingles, tetanus, and more
- Support for quitting tobacco use
- Diet and obesity counseling
For Women:
- Mammograms and cervical cancer screenings
- Birth control and counseling
- Breastfeeding support and supplies
- Well-woman visits and pregnancy-related screenings
For Kids:
- Well-baby and well-child visits
- Immunizations
- Vision, hearing, and dental screenings
- Autism and developmental screenings
You can see the full list of preventive services on the HealthCare.gov website.
How many of these free, in-network services did you know about? Are you taking advantage of them?
With the year winding down, now’s the perfect time to find out exactly what’s included in your plan. Book your preventive care appointments now, especially if your coverage is based on the calendar year.