Skip Navigation
 

The Affordable Care Act and the Quick Guide to Healthy Living

The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010. Many insurance plans are now required to cover the full cost of important preventive services, like medical tests (screenings) and shots (vaccines).

Ask your insurance provider what’s included in your plan. If you have private insurance, you may be able to get these services at no cost to you. Many are also provided at no cost under Medicare. If you have Medicaid, check with your state.

The lists below include all of the preventive services covered by the Affordable Care Act and show you where you can get more information about these services in healthfinder.gov’s Quick Guide to Healthy Living. The Quick Guide offers practical tips and resources to help you and your family stay healthy.


Find out more about:

Preventive Services for Adults

Health Topic What’s Covered Learn More
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm One-time screening for men of specified ages who have ever smoked
Alcohol Misuse Screening and counseling
Aspirin Aspirin use for men and women of certain ages
Blood Pressure Screening for all adults
Cholesterol Screening for adults of certain ages or at higher risk
Colorectal Cancer Screening for adults over 50
Depression Screening for adults
Type 2 Diabetes Screening for adults with high blood pressure
Diet Counseling for adults at higher risk for chronic disease
HIV Screening for all adults at higher risk
Immunization Vaccines for adults (recommendations vary):

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Herpes Zoster (shingles)
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Influenza (flu)
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
  • Meningococcal
  • Pneumococcal
  • Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis
  • Varicella (chickenpox)
Obesity Screening and counseling for all adults
Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Prevention counseling for adults at higher risk
Tobacco Use Screening for all adults and help quitting (cessation interventions) for tobacco users
Syphilis Screening for all adults at higher risk

Preventive Services for Women, Including Pregnant Women

Health Topic What’s Covered Learn More
Anemia Screening on a routine basis for pregnant women
Bacteriuria Urinary tract or other infection screening for pregnant women
BRCA Counseling about genetic testing for women at higher risk
Breast Cancer Mammography Screenings every 1 to 2 years for women over 40
Breast Cancer Chemoprevention Counseling for women at higher risk
Breastfeeding Comprehensive support and counseling from trained providers, as well as access to breastfeeding supplies, for pregnant and nursing women
Cervical Cancer Screening for sexually active women
Chlamydia Infection Screening for younger women and other women at higher risk
Contraception Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling, not including abortifacient drugs
Domestic and Interpersonal Violence Screening and counseling for all women
Folic Acid Supplements for women who may become pregnant
Gestational Diabetes Screening for women 24 to 28 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
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Screening and counseling for sexually active women
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA Test High risk HPV DNA testing every three years for women with normal cytology results who are 30 or older
Osteoporosis Screening for women over age 60 depending on risk factors
Rh Incompatibility Screening for all pregnant women and follow-up testing for women at higher risk
Tobacco Use Screening and interventions for all women, and expanded counseling for pregnant tobacco users
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Counseling for sexually active women
Syphilis Screening for all pregnant women or other women at increased risk
Well-Woman Visits To obtain recommended preventive services for women under 65

Preventive Services for Children

Health Topic What’s Covered Learn More
Alcohol and Drug Use Assessments for adolescents
Autism Screening for children at 18 and 24 months
Behavioral Assessments for children of all ages Make the Most of Your Child’s Visit to the Doctor:

Blood Pressure Screening for children Make the Most of Your Child’s Visit to the Doctor:

Cervical Dysplasia Screening for sexually active females Make the Most of Your Child’s Visit to the Doctor:

Congenital Hypothyroidism Screening for newborns
Depression Screening for adolescents Make the Most of Your Child’s Visit to the Doctor:

Developmental Screening for children under age 3, and surveillance throughout childhood
Dyslipidemia Screening for children at higher risk of lipid disorders Make the Most of Your Child’s Visit to the Doctor:

Fluoride Chemoprevention Supplements for children without fluoride in their water source
Gonorrhea Preventive medicine for the eyes of all newborns
Hearing Screening for all newborns
Height, Weight and Body Mass Index Measurements for children Make the Most of Your Child’s Visit to the Doctor:

Hematocrit or Hemoglobin Screening for children
Hemoglobinopathies Sickle cell screening for newborns
HIV Screening for adolescents at higher risk
Immunization Vaccines for children from birth to age 18 (recommendations vary):

  • Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Inactivated Poliovirus
  • Influenza (flu)
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
  • Meningococcal
  • Pneumococcal
  • Rotavirus
  • Varicella (chickenpox)
Iron Supplements for children ages 6 to 12 months at risk for anemia
Lead Screening for children at risk of exposure
Medical History For all children throughout development Make the Most of Your Child’s Visit to the Doctor:

Obesity Screening and counseling
Oral Health Risk assessment for young children Make the Most of Your Child’s Visit to the Doctor:

Phenylketonuria (PKU) Screening for this genetic disorder in newborns
Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Prevention counseling and screening for adolescents at higher risk
Tuberculin Testing for children at higher risk of tuberculosis Make the Most of Your Child’s Visit to the Doctor:

Vision Screening for all children
Make the Most of Your Child’s Visit to the Doctor: