Over 3 million women in New York Will Benefit
From Provisions Being Implemented Today

Washington, DC--Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) announced all new and renewed health care plans will be required to provide free coverage of key women’s preventative services at the start of their plan year.  This provision of the Affordable Care Act takes effect today. 

In 2011, 54 million Americans, including over 3.3 million New Yorkers, with private health insurance, gained access to preventive services with no cost sharing because of the landmark law.  Starting today, approximately 47 million women will now have guaranteed access to additional preventive services without paying more at the doctor’s office, including over 3 million New York women.

“This new coverage makes today a very important one in the lives of millions of women.  Until now, too many private health insurance policies failed to cover basic women’s preventative care, with others charging astronomical co-payments.  This caused far too many women to forego important tests and procedures, endangering their health.  Studies have shown that more than half of women have delayed or avoided preventive care because of its cost.  This important part of the Affordable Care Act opens the door for women to improve their health and quality of life and help detect health concerns before they become serious,” said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. 

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, new health plans have already been required to provide free coverage for certain preventive services, including:

• Colonoscopies;
• Mammograms;
• Cholesterol screenings; and
• Flu shots. 

Now, beginning today, all new or renewing insurance plans will be required to cover additional services and screenings for women with no out-of-pocket charges.  These include services that are essential to helping women stay healthy, including:

• Well-woman visits,
• Gestational diabetes screening;
• HPV testing;
• FDA-approved contraception;
• Domestic violence screening;
• Breastfeeding support and supplies;
• Sexually transmitted infection counseling, and;
• HIV screening.

Rep. Engel is the author of two bills which complement some of these new provisions.  The Gestational Diabetes Act (GEDI) aims to lower the incidence rate of gestational diabetes, and prevent women afflicted with this condition, and their children, from developing Type 2 diabetes.  The Early Treatment of HIV Act (ETHA) would allow, under the Medicaid program, early treatment for low income individuals with HIV before they develop AIDS.

“There are other important parts of the Affordable Care Act still to come.  In the past, insurers could deny women coverage because of anything - from being a breast cancer survivor to being pregnant. Insurers could also charge women significantly more than men for the same coverage.   However, beginning in 2014, it will be illegal to deny coverage to an adult due to a pre-existing condition.  It will also be illegal to charge women more than men just because of their gender.   The Affordable Care Act is making a real difference in women’s lives and will continue to do so as more of the law becomes effective.  Soon, when discrimination against women in the insurance market is fully banned, being a woman will no longer be considered a pre-existing condition,” added Rep. 

xxx