Starting next year, all new health plans must cover 100 percent of the cost of contraception and a list of other women’s preventive services, with no deductibles or copays, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

With one exception (see below), HHS adopted all the recommendations made by an expert committee of the Institute of Medicine, which we wrote about when it came out a couple of weeks ago.

To recap, here are the covered services:
• All FDA-approved contraceptives.
• Annual HIV test for all sexually active women.
• Screening pregnant women for gestational diabetes.
• A DNA test for human papillomavirus (HPV) in women over 30 who have a normal Pap smear (also covered), in order to identify women at higher risk of developing cervical cancer in the future.
• Annual counseling on STDs for all sexually active women.
• Lactation support and counseling, including rental of breastfeeding equipment.
• Screening and counseling for domestic violence.
• At least one “well-woman” visit per year to deliver these various preventive services.

Coverage by your health plan will kick in at the beginning of the first “plan year” after Aug. 1, 2012, HHS said. (You can find out the starting date of your plan year by looking at your policy or asking your plan administrator—probably your human resources department if you work for a large employer.)

That exception: HHS is adding a “conscience clause” to allow religious organizations to leave birth control coverage out of their employee health plans if it violates the tenets of their faith.

Sources
Affordable Care Act Ensures Women Receive Preventive Services at No Additional Cost [HHS]