What is Preventative Care?
Preventive healthcare is an incredibly important part of not only your insurance benefits, but your overall health. Most plans cover a set of preventative services, such as screenings, at no cost to you. When provided by an in-network service or provider, Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans cover preventative services without any copay or coinsurance costs.
The services included under preventative healthcare are listed below. If you are ever unsure if a service you are seeking might qualify as preventative, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
For all adults:
Abdominal aortic aneurysm one-time screening for men of specified ages who have ever smoked
Alcohol misuse screening and counseling
Aspirin use for adults 50 to 59 years with a high cardiovascular risk
Blood pressure screening
Cholesterol screening for adults of certain ages or at higher risk
Colorectal cancer screening for adults 45 to 75 years
Depression screening
Diabetes (Type 2) screening for adults 40 to 70 years who are overweight or obese
Diet counseling for adults at higher risk for chronic disease
Fall prevention for adults 65 years and over, living in a community setting
Hepatitis B screening for people at high risk
Hepatitis C screening for adults 18 to 79 years
HIV screening for everyone 15 to 65 years, and other ages at increased risk
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) HIV prevention medication for adults at high risk
The following immunizations for adults:
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Diphtheria
Flu (influenza)
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Measles
Meningococcal
Mumps
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Pneumococcal
Rubella
Shingles
Tetanus
Lung cancer screening for adults at high risk for lung cancer due to smoking habits
Obesity screening and counseling
Sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention counseling for adults at higher risk
Statin preventive medication for adults 40 to 75 years at high risk
Syphilis screening for adults at higher risk
Tobacco use screening for all adults and cessation interventions for tobacco users
Tuberculosis screening for certain adults without symptoms at high risk
For Women:
Breastfeeding support and counseling from trained providers
Birth control: FDA-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling, as prescribed by a health care provider for women with reproductive capacity (not including abortifacient drugs)
Folic acid supplements for women who may become pregnant
Gestational diabetes screening for women 24 weeks pregnant and those at high risk of developing gestational diabetes
Gonorrhea screening for all women at higher risk
Hepatitis B screening for pregnant women at their first prenatal visit
Maternal depression screening for mothers at well-baby visits
Preeclampsia prevention and screening for pregnant women with high blood pressure
Rh incompatibility screening for all pregnant women and follow-up testing
Syphilis screening
Expanded tobacco intervention and counseling for pregnant tobacco users
Urinary tract or other infection screening
Bone density screening for all women who have gone through menopause
Breast cancer genetic test counseling (BRCA) for women at higher risk
Breast cancer screening mammogram every 1-2 years for women 40 years and older
Breast cancer chemoprevention counseling for women at higher risk
Cervical cancer screening
Pap test (also called a Pap smear) for women 21 to 65 years old
Chlamydia infection screening for younger women and other women at higher risk
Domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling for all women
Gonorrhea screening for all women at higher risk
Urinary incontinence screening for women yearly
Well-woman visits to get recommended services for all women
For Children
Alcohol, tobacco, and drug use assessments for adolescents
Autism screening for children at 18 and 24 months
Behavioral assessments for children
Bilirubin concentration screening for newborns
Blood pressure screening for children
Blood screening for newborns
Depression screening for adolescents begins routinely at age 12
Developmental screening for children under age 3
Dyslipidemia screening for all children once between 9 and 11
Fluoride supplements for children without fluoride in their water source
Fluoride varnish for all infants and children as soon as teeth are present
Gonorrhea preventive medication for the eyes of all newborns
Hearing screening for all newborns, and for adolescents, as recommended
Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) measurements taken regularly for all children
Hematocrit or hemoglobin screening for all children
Hemoglobinopathies or sickle cell screening for newborns
Hepatitis B screening for adolescents at higher risk
HIV screening for adolescents at higher risk
Hypothyroidism screening for newborns
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) HIV prevention medication
Immunizations for children from birth to 18 years:
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP)
Haemophilus influenza type b
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Inactivated Poliovirus
Influenza (flu shot)
Measles
Meningococcal
Mumps
Pneumococcal
Rotavirus
Rubella
Lead screening for children at risk of exposure
Obesity screening and counseling
Oral health risk assessment for young children from 6 months to 6 years
Phenylketonuria (PKU) screening for newborns
Sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention counseling and screening
Tuberculin testing for children at higher risk of tuberculosis
Vision screening for all children
Well-baby and well-child visits
Get details about regular checkups and child development by age.
For more information on preventative coverage and care, check out this landing page on Healthcare.gov. As always, if you have any questions, get in touch! We are here to help.
