How College Students Can Access Contraception Without Cost-Sharing - Campus Progress
Earlier this month, a regulation that implements part of the Affordable Care Act took effect, ensuring that women have coverage without cost sharing for a wide range of recommended preventive services. Many of these services are especially important to improve women’s health, especially young women. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 47 million women with private health insurance will receive these recommended services without cost sharing.
The requirement applies to both group and individual new health insurance plans,[1] and because student health plans are categorized under the Affordable Care Act as a type of individual health insurance, these plans will be subject to the requirement. The preventive services requirement, which includes contraception, says that insurance companies will have to cover preventive services with no cost-sharing for plan years that start on or after Aug. 1, 2012. Because college health insurance plan years tend to start in August—as opposed to employer-sponsored plans, which often begin in January—students will be among the first beneficiaries of this requirement.[2]
Due to limited regulation of student health plans, each institution operates differently. So while guidelines are offered below, check with your university to find out exactly how your student health plan operates.
What can I get without cost sharing? (Services with * will be available without cost-sharing for new plans beginning on or after Aug. 1, 2012. Services without * were already available without a co-pay under Obamacare.
Cervical cancer screenings, which are conducted with either a pap smear or HPV test
Chlamydia screening
Gonorrhea screening for women at higher risk
Syphilis screening for women at increased risk
Smoking and alcohol cessation programs
Depression screening
All FDA-approved methods of contraception, including emergency contraception, and contraceptive counseling*
Domestic violence screening and counseling*
HIV screening and counseling*
Well-woman visits*
Sexually Transmitted Infections counseling*
HPV DNA testing for women 30 and older*
Gestational diabetes screening for pregnant women*
Lactation supports and counseling for nursing women*