Last week I went to the White House to attend a town hall on the health care law. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called it the most important women's health care law in 50 years and highlighted the positive ways it will affect coverage for women.
If it isn't overturned by the Supreme Court, the Affordable Care Act will mean significant changes in coverage not only for women but specifically for moms. With so much information out there about the ways health insurance will be different, here's what moms need to know about how the new law might have an impact on them:
More from The Stir: What You Need to Know About the New Health Care Law
1. Children cannot be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. This is a huge change and was spoken about repeatedly last week at the White House. It's now illegal to refuse to cover babies and all other children under 19 who have pre-existing health conditions, whether it's asthma or something more serious. Previously, insurance providers could deny coverage to children with health problems or drop them from their plan. Adults with pre-existing conditions will no longer be denied coverage either.
2. Contraception is covered without a copay. Meaning all birth control -- including the pill, IUDs, and even tube-tying procedures -- that you currently can only get by handing over a copay will be free. Free!
3. Breastfeeding supplies and services will be covered without a copay. New moms who are breastfeeding will have access to everything from lactation consultants to breast pump rentals without paying a cent. Insurance will take care of it.
4. Prenatal care screenings for conditions like gestational diabetes, hepatitis B, and anemia, as well as other preventive services, will be covered with no copay. Pregnant women who currently have to help foot the bill for various tests will now be screened at no cost to them.
5. Maternity and newborn care will become mandatory. Beginning in 2014, all health insurance plans must include pregnancy and newborn care. That means all prenatal visits and delivery options will be covered by insurance and available to expectant moms so they don't have to pick and choose which ones they can afford and which ones they'll have to skip.
What changes in health care are you happiest about?
Image via loomingy1/Flickr
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Comments 44
The fact that the pill causes negative side effects in some people has nothing to do with whether or not it should be covered. Insurance companies have been covering Viagra for ages. There's no excuse for the pill not to be covered. It's used not only for birth control but to manage several health problems. No matter what you use it for, if you use it, insurance should help pay - just like they help pay for all that Viagra.
I think it's premature to assume all healthcare costs will skyrocket because of this. If everyone's required to have health insurance, just like we're all required to have car insurance, there will be a massive influx of customers which could help keep costs down. I think this article and what it means ROCKS.
BC is covered as preventative care. the cost of a single cesarean would pay for several women's BC for a year.
When he was diagnosed, my sister was going through nursing school. Her husband left them and quit his job to get out of paying child support and along with that went my nephew's insurance. Now we've got a Pre-existing condition! Medicaid, paid by the taxpayers, had to pick up the tab since no insurance company would take him.
So it confuses me why people like you are against a person being able to buy their own insurance as opposed to the taxpayers taking them all on which is exactly what happens. Could you explain your reasoning?
that's a breathtaking lack of knowledge you're displaying there, Between Courses.
there are countless pre-existing conditions which do not originate with poor lifestyle choices.
how is asking for coverage for which you pay insurance premiums trying to get anything for free?
and no one needs your lectures on work. this is a conversation about insurance, and most are insured BECAUSE they are already employed.
"Contraception is covered without a copay. Meaning all birth control -- including the pill, IUDs, and even tube-tying procedures -- that you currently can only get by handing over a copay will be free. Free!"
Does that apply also for a 20-something gal who hasn't given birth? *please, respond*
The problem with the health care bill is that they will penalize you for not having health insurance. Parts of the bill are good, namely the preexisting condition part. The problem is that health insurance is too expensive for a lot of people. That's because of malpractice premiums due to our sue happy society. Also, some people choose to spend their money on other things than health insurance, for example $400-$500 a month for a new car.
"the thing that sucks for ppl like me 1)i am not planing on anymore kids and 2)i cant afford insurance now what is going to happen to people like when the new law goes into affect that says i have to have health insurance that i cant afford"
The better question would be what would happen to you if you or your child(ren) were involved in an accident requiring hospitalization that can easily run into hundreds of thousands of dollars? What if you were diagnosed with cancer? Since no birth control is fool proof and at least 50% of pregnancies are unplanned, what would you do if you got pregnant again? Insurance is expensive but any of those things would be financial ruin and in the case of cancer, death.
Let's talk about what your mother failed to teach you. Think Walmart....gee, how can they possibly sell things for so much cheaper than the little mom and pop store next door selling the exact same item?
Free services...riiight. And where exactly is the money going to come from to cover all this? The gov't sure as hell can't afford it, since we're trillions in debt. Or maybe they will wise up, cut ALL foreign aid and use that money to cover the healthcare. But unless that happens...who is paying for the coverage in the first place??