Healthcare reform is now a reality. Thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law on March 23, 2010, certain preventative care services will be provided at no charge to the consumer. Here are a few examples.
- If you are on Medicare and age 50 or older, there is now no charge for the three tests that check for colon cancer - colonoscopy (once every 10 years), sigmoidoscopy (once every five years) and fecal occult blood tests (once a year).
- If you have a private health insurance with an effective date after March 23, 2010, that insurance must provide preventive health services with no co-pay or deductible.
- Medicare and many private insurance plans now cover preventive healthcare services for women, including mammograms and cervical cancer tests, with no co-pay or out-of-pocket expenses.
To qualify for these services, you much use a provider who is a member of your health plan network. Before making an appointment, be sure to check with your health insurance provider to see if you are eligible for these preventive medical procedures.
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