Contents of Obamacare - Part 9 - Women and Obamacare

Women and The Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”). Erin Weir, the Manager of Health Care Access at “AgeOptions” an Oak Park, Illinois based Not-for-profit, says there are many reasons that women should be excited about Obamacare. Erin says that women visit the doctor more often than men and are usually the primary health care decision-makers in families. Women are less likely to get insurance from their jobs because they are often working part time or serving as family caregivers. They currently pay more for insurance premiums than men, and a greater share of their income is consumed by out-of-pocket health care costs. Women are more likely to lose their health insurance due to changes in marital status. Finally, access to health care is especially difficult for women of color, young women, and women in rural areas. Women’s Protections Against Pre-existing Conditions: Starting 2014, insurance companies can no longer deny coverage due to pre-existing conditions such as pregnancy, C-sections, cancers, domestic violence, or sexual assault. Prior law allowed them to do so. Consumer Protections for Women. Starting in 2014, insurance plans will no longer be able to discriminate against women by charging higher premiums due to gender. Women will also enjoy the immediate benefits of no lifetime limits on coverage and the upcoming benefit of no annual limits starting in 2014. Preventive Services for Women. Effective August 1, 2012, the law requires coverage of the following preventive services without a co-pay or deductible: annual well-women’s visits, gestational diabetes screening for women who are 24-48 weeks pregnant and high risk, HPV DNA testing (women 30 and over), sexually transmitted infection screening and counseling, including HIV, contraception and contraceptive counseling (excluding abortions), breastfeeding support and equipment, and interpersonal and domestic violence screening and counseling. Source: Erin Weir, “The ACA and Women”, Presentation at Chicago Bar Association, October 30, 2012. Agencies and Websites:Obamacare maintains an “Office of Women’s Health” within the federal Department of Health and Human Services, which is led by the “Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women’s Health”. In addition, the law maintains a “National Women’s Health Information Center”. Nancy C. Lee, MD, initially from the Center for Disease Control, is the Director, and the information center is at www.womenshealth.gov. The law also maintains an “Office of Women’s Health” within the Center for Disease Control (CDC). This office’s website is at www.cdc.gov/women.