What is Preventive Care?
While insurance coverage for preventive care has become a bit of a political football (in June, an agreement regarding a Texas court ruling affirmed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirement that preventive care be covered without any co-pays or deductibles), one thing seems clear: More of us are aware of preventive care and the impact it can have on our health.
And that impact is considerable: According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, in 2019 preventable health risk factors played a role in more than 60% of deaths in the U.S.
But what is preventive care? Broadly, it’s the tests, examinations and screenings that can prevent or detect health problems before they become serious and more costly. Following are some of the basic items that fall under the “preventive care” definition.
Annual physical or exam. This is exactly what it sounds like, an annual assessment of your health. The ACA ensures you can get an annual wellness exam each year, even if you have no symptoms of illness. Often this exam will include some screenings and immunizations.
Cancer screenings. This includes things like mammograms and colonoscopies as frequently as your age and health factors dictate. People with a history of smoking can get lung cancer screenings after age 50.
Blood tests. These are the routine blood tests – such as cholesterol and diabetes screenings – that your caregiver will order as part of your annual exam.
Counseling and education. People who have severe weight-management issues, poor diet, mental health concerns and more might have access to certain counseling and education services without out-of-pocket charges.
Vaccinations. These include the flu shots you get once a year and a number of other vaccinations and immunizations over various periods based on your age and gender.
Chronic disease care. If you have a chronic condition or special risk factors, you might be eligible for additional or more frequent screenings and examinations.
Prenatal care. This includes the care required to ensure a healthy pregnancy and childbirth.
Smoking cessation. You can get full coverage for programs, medications, counseling and more that will help you stop smoking.
Well-baby visits. Children are eligible for regular check-ups that will assess their health, progress, growth, and more.
Women’s health. Certain screenings, medications and treatments related to breast cancer, cervical cancer and more must be covered as preventive.
While these types of services are required to be covered, it is common for errors to occur and costs such as co-pays and deductibles to be charged. For this reason, it’s important to check your medical bills to make sure you are not being charged for preventive services.
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Tags: health, preventive care