The Big List of Free Services You Can Get from Health Insurance

Did you know your health insurance plan offers more than just coverage for doctor visits and hospital stays? Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most health insurance plans are required to cover a range of preventive services at no extra cost to you. This means you can access certain screenings, counseling, and wellness visits without paying a copayment or coinsurance, even if you haven’t met your yearly deductible. Here's a comprehensive list of the free services you might be entitled to under your health insurance plan.

Preventive Services for Adults

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening: A one-time screening for men of specified ages who have ever smoked.
• Alcohol Misuse Screening & Counseling: Free screenings and interventions to address alcohol misuse.
• Aspirin Use for Cardiovascular Disease: Recommendations for adults aged 50 to 59 with a high cardiovascular risk.
• Blood Pressure Screening: Regular checks to monitor and manage blood pressure levels.
• Cholesterol Screening: Available for adults of certain ages or those at higher risk.
• Colorectal Cancer Screening: For adults aged 50 to 75.
• Depression Screening: Assessments for early signs of depression.
• Diabetes (Type 2) Screening: For adults aged 40 to 70 who are overweight or obese.
• Diet Counseling: For adults at higher risk for chronic diseases.
• Falls Prevention: Includes exercise or physical therapy and vitamin D use for adults 65 years and older living in a community setting.
• Hepatitis B & C Screening: For individuals at high risk.
• HIV Screening: For everyone aged 15 to 65 and others at increased risk.
• Lung Cancer Screening: For adults aged 55 to 80 at high risk due to smoking.
• STI Prevention Counseling: For adults at higher risk.
• Statin Preventive Medication: For adults aged 40 to 75 at high risk for cardiovascular disease.
• Syphilis Screening: For adults at higher risk.
• Tobacco Use Screening & Cessation: Interventions for all adults using tobacco.
• Tuberculosis Screening: For certain adults at high risk.

Preventive Services for Women

• Breast Cancer Mammography Screenings: For women over 40, every one to two years.
• Cervical Cancer Screenings: Regular screenings to detect early signs of cervical cancer.
• Domestic & Interpersonal Violence Screening & Counseling: Confidential support and resources.
• HIV Screening & Counseling: Regular screenings and advice.
• Wellness Visits: Comprehensive check-ups to manage overall health.
• Contraception: Free access to a wide range of contraceptive methods, though some plans provided by religious employers may be exempt.
• Folic Acid Supplements: For women who could become pregnant.
• Gestational Diabetes Screening: For women between 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy or those at high risk.
• Breastfeeding Support & Counseling: Resources for pregnant and nursing women.

Preventive Services for Children

• Wellness Visits: Regular check-ups including assessments of height, weight, mobility, and other developmental milestones.
• Autism Screenings: Available for children at various developmental stages.
• Depression Screenings: Starting at age 12.
• Blood Pressure Screenings: From newborn through age 17.
• Behavioral Assessments: Covering alcohol, tobacco, and drug use for adolescents.
• Dyslipidemia (High Cholesterol) Screenings: Once between 9 and 11 years, and once between 17 and 21 years, with more frequent screenings for children at higher risk.

How to Access These Services

To take advantage of these free services, make sure to schedule them with in-network providers. While short-term health plans, health sharing ministries, and other alternative health plans may not offer these services, most marketplace plans and other ACA-compliant insurance plans do. Always check with your insurance provider to confirm coverage and recommended schedules for these preventive services.

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Description: An illustration showing a variety of free preventive health services available under most insurance plans, emphasizing the importance of regular check-ups and screenings.