Women's Health
Women often face more discrimination and higher health costs, especially during their childbearing years.
President Obama (D)
All new private insurance plans, and Medicare, now cover 22 preventive health services for women for free (no copayment, coinsurance, or deductible). They include:
- A yearly wellness checkup
- Cholesterol and blood pressure screening
- Mammogram, colorectal cancer screening, and cervical cancer screening
- Depression screening
- Many vaccinations
- HIV screening
- Help quitting smoking
- The full list of preventive services is posted on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web site.
Other provisions:
- Requires health insurance companies to cover the cost of FDA-approved birth control, sterilization procedures, and contraceptive education and counseling.
- Employers that provide health benefits must include the full cost of contraceptives in their plans.
- Organizations opposed to birth control can opt out of providing coverage for it. Insurance companies will pick up the cost instead.
Governor Romney (R)
- Not mentioned in his plan.