You have health insurance…great! But are you taking advantage of all of the free preventive screenings that are offered? While you probably don’t want to spend the warm summer days in a doctor’s office, a few hours of prevention can save you money and time on your health in the long run. Plus, if you have kids, it’s a great time to make sure they’re up-to-date on their vaccines before the school year begins.
Under the Affordable Care Act, free services are broken down into three categories: adults, women, and children. It’s important to note that services are free when the doctor is in-network, so once you’re in network, you’re good to go. What’s included? Here are just a few of the free services you can take advantage of:
Adults
- Blood pressure screening
- Cholesterol screening for adults of certain ages or at higher risk
- Colorectal cancer screening for adults over 50
- Diabetes (Type 2) screening for adults with high blood pressure
- Diet counseling for adults at higher risk for chronic disease
Women-specific
- Anemia screening
- Folic acid supplements for women who may become pregnant
- Gestational diabetes screening for women 24 to 28 weeks pregnant and those at high risk of developing gestational diabetes
- Urinary tract and other infection screening
Children
- Autism screening for children at 18 and 24 months
- Depression screening for adolescents
- Developmental screening for children under age 3
- Fluoride supplements for children without fluoride in their water source
- Hearing screening for all newborns
- Immunization vaccines for children from birth to age 18 — doses, recommended ages, and recommended populations vary:
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
- Haemophilus influenzae type b
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Human Papillomavirus (PVU)
- Inactivated Poliovirus
- Influenza (flu shot)
- Measles
- Meningococcal
- Pneumococcal
- Rotavirus
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
This list is not exhaustive. For a full list of free covered services, visit https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/preventive-care-benefits/ or click on the links above.
