DeLauro Applauds Free Coverage of Key Women’s Preventative Services

Estimated 637,900 Connecticut Women Will Benefit from Provision

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today applauded the beginning of a new phase under the Affordable Care Act. Starting today most health care plans will be required with their next renewal to provide free coverage of key women’s preventive services, such as domestic violence counseling and cancer screening.

“Now, at long last, a woman’s health is being put on equal footing with that of her spouse, son, or brother,” DeLauro said. “Guaranteeing all Americans access to quality, affordable health care was the cornerstone of the Affordable Care Act. Covering effective preventive services—including contraception, domestic violence counseling, yearly checkups and cancer screening—is a critical part of that. This provision will help ensure that generations of American women will lead healthier, more productive lives.

“According to the Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 47 million women across the country—including 637,900 in Connecticut—will have key preventive services covered with no additional out-of-pocket cost thanks to the Affordable Care Act. The ‘yea’ I cast for that law is one of the proudest votes of my congressional career and this is one of the many reasons why.”

Beginning today, all new insurance plans will cover certain health services and screenings for women with no out-of-pocket charges. This coverage will eventually be phased in for most existing health care plans. Under the Affordable Care Act, new health care plans have already been required to provide free coverage of certain preventive services. This package includes things like colonoscopies, mammograms, cholesterol screenings and flu shots.

DeLauro, the senior democrat on the subcommittee that funds the Department of Health and Human Services, fought for comprehensive health care reform for years and was a leading champion for the Affordable Care Act.