The Affordable Care Act, the health insurance reform legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama, included some changes to women's preventive services that went into effect this week. According to the Act, new private health plans must cover specific women’s preventive services with no cost sharing, including annual well-woman visits and FDA-approved contraception, in plan years starting on or after August 1, 2012.
While these guidelines will not cover all privately insured individuals immediately, most will see the benefits within the year. Graduate students on the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) will have access to no-copay contraceptives and other preventive services at the Student Health center. Coverage for 2012-13 begins September 23, 2012. For more information about what's covered under UC SHIP, please visit the Student Health website.
Students covered by other health insurance options should contact their provider to see how the guidelines apply to their plans. The National Women's Law Center has information about "How To Find Out If and When Your Health Plan Will Begin Covering Women’s Preventive Services with No Co-Pay."
More information about all aspects of the Affordable Care Act is available at HealthCare.gov.