#ACA Is Working For NJ Women
For New Jersey women, August 1st Means Preventive Care Without Co-Pays
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, over 1.4 million women in New Jersey can now get coverage for even more preventative services without paying more at the doctor's office.
This means women renewing or initiating insurance plans will now have guaranteed access to a full range of preventive health services like mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, well woman visits and contraception, with no out-of-pocket costs. This is great news for women who too often delay or put off seeking preventive care because of cost.
Here’s some of the health services all new insurance plans are required to cover: 
Men and children are also benefiting from the Affordable Care Act which requires that all new health plans must cover a range of preventive services without cost sharing including routine check-ups, flu shots, blood repressure and obesity screenings and more.
Number of New Jerseyans in 2011 who saw expanded coverage: 
FAQs
When do these new requirements take effect?
All new plans will be required to cover the additional Women’s Preventive Services beginning August 1, 2012. For existing plans, these new benefits will take effect at the beginning of the new plan year. You should consult with your plan administrator to determine when your new plan year begins. School health plans, which often begin their health plan years around the beginning of the school year, will see the benefits of the August 1st start date.
I heard about this new law that requires health plans to cover preventive care like mammograms and contraceptives. What is it and what does it require?
The Affordable Care Act requires certain preventive health services and screenings to be covered in all new health insurance plans without cost sharing. This means that, for these covered services, you will not be charged a co-payment or co-insurance for the services, nor will you need to pay out-of-pocket if you have not yet met your deductible.
Does this mean I won’t have to pay anything for preventive services?
You will be able to get the included preventive services at no cost to you . While some plans previously covered preventive services with no cost sharing requirements, many only paid a portion of the cost, while the patient would have to pay a co-payment or co-insurance. Now, the full range of services will be fully covered by insurance plans and you will not need to make a separate payment to your doctor or pharmacy.
Click Here for more FAQs.
Resources: ACA & You
Click Here to learn more what the Affordable Care Act means for women.
Click Here to see what happens to contraception coverage on 8/1.
