It's Official Women to Receive Free Health Screenings and More

Starting on or after August 1, 2012 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced good news for women in the nation. New guidelines will require insurance plans to cover several women's health services which include birth control, voluntary sterilization and more.

This is a big step for the health of American women. HSS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius stated that this decision is in part of the "Affordable Care Acts". This new move will guarantee women to obtain the preventive health benefits they require.

Included in these benefits which come at no cost to women are; well visits, HIV screening and counseling, FDA approved contraceptive methods and counseling, domestic violence screening and counseling, gestational diabetes screening, HPV testing for women 30 years old and up, sexually transmitted infection counseling and breastfeeding supplies, support and counseling this does include breast pumps.

Just like any good deed done, there are always opposing forces. These forces for example include Family Research Council stating that this move threatens the conscience rights of numerous Americans. The Committee on Pro-Life Activities along with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops through their chairman Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, stating that" pregnancy is not a disease". It is their feeling that this new decision coerces people to take part that could have religious or morale convictions that are against contraceptives.

For the reason the Obama Administration has included an amendment to the prevention regulation. This amendment will allow religious institutions that offer health insurance to their employees a choice of either allowing contraceptive services or to decline.

There are numerous supporters of this new plan who agree that this will aide women in the millions that now struggle for prescription birth control to be able to have contraceptives without that struggle. Supporters also note that allow for free contraceptives aides the government in saving money. A report from Guttmacher Institute that in the year 2006 two million publicly funded births occurred and 51% of that number was from unintended pregnancies which cost the government $11 billion.

This new healthcare reform has insurance companies covering in full the services which are considered critical for preventive care by HHS. An expanding list is being complied and among the list are services such as mammograms, pediatrics and vaccines.