Women’s preventive health benefits – new changes effective August 1, 2012

Aetna Advantage Plans for Individuals, Families and the Self-Employed

As of August 1, 2012, the following women's health services are considered preventive and therefore generallly covered at no cost share, when provided in-network.

These benefits apply to new business effective August 1, 2012. Updated brochures will be available on Producer World beginning May 25th.

Women's preventive health benefits

• Well-woman visits (annual routine physical, annual routine GYN exam and prenatal visits)
• Screening for gestational diabetes
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing
• Counseling for sexually transmitted infections
• Counseling and screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence
• Breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling
• Contraceptive methods and counseling

The federal health care reform legislation, known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), was signed into law on March 23, 2010.

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Tip Tuesday! What’s the difference between preventive and diagnostic care?

Many health care services can be done for preventive or diagnostic reasons. Under health care reform, participants in non-grandfathered plans are eligible to receive certain preventive services, based on age, gender and other health factors, with no cost-sharing. When your doctor performs one of the preventive services specified by the health care reform law for preventive reasons, and sends the correct report, UnitedHealthcare will cover the service under your preventive care benefit if you have a non-grandfathered plan. When a service is done for diagnostic reasons, it will be covered under your non-preventive medical benefit. Always refer to your plan documents for your specific coverage.

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Tip Tuesday: Regular Check-ups Are Important

Scheduling regular check-ups is the best way to take control of your health -- and the best part is: The Affordable Care Act is now requiring some important preventative services be covered under your current health plan at no additional cost to you.


According to the CDC, "Regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start. They also can help find problems early, when your chances for treatment and cure are better. By getting the right health services, screenings, and treatments, you are taking steps that help your chances for living a longer, healthier, life. Your age, health and family history, lifestyle choices (i.e. what you eat, how active you are, whether you smoke), and other important factors impact what and how often you need services and screenings."

Under the new legislation, depending on your age, you may have free access to such preventive serices as:

• Blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol test;
• Many cancer screenings, inclduing mammograms and colonoscopies;
• Counseling from your health care provider on such topics as quitting smoking, losing weight, eating healthfully, treating depression, and reducing alcohol use;
• Routine vaccinations against diseases such as measles, polio, or meningitis;
• Counseling, screening, and vaccines to ensure healthy pregnancies;
• Regular well-baby and well-child visists, from birth to age 21;

For more information on preventative services and the Affordable Care Act, please visit HealthCare.gov

Caleb Bourque