IN THIS ISSUE

This month, Better Health News gives you an overview of how to save money with the new healthcare regulations.

First, we cover kids and teens.

Thenafter, women and their new options.

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Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes, knees and toes...

To kids, it’s a simple preschool song. But, for parents, it’s a reminder that we owe it to our little ones to keep all those parts healthy.

One of the best ways parents and caregivers can help their babies (whether it’s a newborn baby or a teen “baby”) is by getting them good quality preventative care.

Now, we all know how expensive health care can be. But here’s some good news: you can get your child the preventative care that keeps them happy, healthy, and singing.

Which preventative services won’t cost you a dime? Here are the no-cost health care perks available for babies, kids, and teens.

Healthier Kids

Sometimes life throws more than a bump or a bruise at our kids. Think of preventative care as the first line of defense in detecting problems that cause serious health issues.

Check out these no-cost services available through your insurance plan:

1. Newborn screening: hearing, phenylketonuria (a genetic trait that can cause lots of problems), thyroid disease, amd sickle cell disease.
2. Immunizations at the recommended ages and doses.
3. Lead screening.
4. Obesity screening and counseling.
5. Oral health risk assessment for children 10 years and younger.
6. Tuberculosis testing for higher-risk children.
7. Vision screening.

Better Development

One of the big-time advantages of recent reform is the expanded ability for parents to access the services that monitor a child’s development:

1. Autism screening at 18 and 24 months.
2. Behavioral problems assessment.
3. Developmental screening up to 3 years, and surveillance throughout childhood.

Safer Teens

If you have a teen in the family, you know just how tough it is to talk about, much less deal with, real-world challenges: drug use and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be tough to confront.

Free preventative care for “kids” includes services for all those potential teen trouble spots:

1. Alcohol and drug use assessment.
2. Depression screening.
3. HIV screening for higher-risk teens.
4. Immunization for HPV (human papillomavirus).
5. Sexually transmitted infections screening and counseling.
6. Pap smears for sexually active females.

While health care law requires insurers to provide free preventative care for kids, make sure you follow the insurer’s guidelines.

For instance, an insurance provider may require you to visit a medical professional within their network. Families who go outside the network may be asked to pay for part of the preventative visit’s cost.

If you have children, it’s time to take advantage of the free preventative care services offered through insurance plans. After all, it’s a smart first step toward protecting all those heads, shoulders, knees, and toes.

Know anyone that has kids or teens? Send them this article to spread the word about these no-cost preventative services.

In a small house on a quiet street, a single mother sniffles as she puts on another batch of chicken soup for her three kids, all of which are sick in bed with the flu.

Across town, a daughter stops by her aging father’s home to help him cook dinner, giving her a 12 hour working day. His arthritis has been acting up more these days, and he needs the help.

Women often find themselves putting the health and well-being of others before their own. But even the most caring of women needs a little care herself. That’s why it’s critical for the women who care for everyone else to learn about the new, no-cost preventative services that help them care for themselves.

Here are 7 preventative services women now have access to, without a co-payment or other cost sharing.

1. Well Visits

Well visits aren’t just for the kids. Chronic diseases cause 7 out of 10 American deaths.

Now, you have access to well-woman visits, where you and your medical professional will determine what preventative services might be necessary. These services, which include mammograms, are available for free—no co-pay or co-insurance necessary.

2. Breastfeeding Support, Supplies, and Counseling

In the past, the cost of breastfeeding supplies and lack of professional support prevented many women from nursing, one of the top ways for a woman to safeguard her baby’s health—and her own. Breastfeeding bolsters an infant’s immune system and reduces a mom’s risk of certain cancers. The new regulations require insurance providers to deliver free professional lactation support and breastfeeding equipment, like pump rental.

3. Contraception and Counseling

Insurance plans must now cover FDA-approved contraception, from the birth control pill to tube-tying procedures, without requiring a co-payment. Patient counseling and education are also covered services. Be aware that some religious-based employers may be exempt from the requirement.

4. Domestic Violence Screening

With up to 25% of U.S. women reporting they’ve been the target of domestic violence at least once in their life, screening is an important step toward keeping women safe. Counseling and screening for domestic violence are now part of insurance coverage for women.

5. Gestational Diabetes Screening

This condition affects up to 10% of all pregnant women, and, left untreated, can have serious consequences, including death. Women with this form of diabetes also have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes after pregnancy. Since there are few symptoms of gestational diabetes, it’s critical to take advantage of free screening between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy.

6. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA Testing

Through their insurance plan, women 30 and older will receive no-cost DNA testing to detect high-risk HPV, a leading cause of cervical cancer. This test is available every 3 years, even if Pap smear results are normal.

7. Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and HIV Screening and Counseling

Only about one-quarter of women have discussed STIs with a health care professional. Sexually active women now receive free STI and HIV screening as well as counseling.

Remember, insurance providers may require you to use a doctor within their network to obtain free preventative services. If you visit an out-of-network doctor or facility, the insurer may charge a fee. Save money and hassle by checking your plan requirements before making an appointment.

Can you think of a woman who puts others first? Share this article with all the special women in your life.