I’m not a big fan of all the provisions of the recent Healthcare Reform Act, but there is one provision that will be a big benefit to many of our members. In the near future, insurance companies will be required to provide basic wellness services and routine immunizations at no cost to the member. At Health Plan Select, we are implementing this for all of our members effective September 1, 2010.
What does this mean? In the past, members were required to pay copays for routine wellness services just like any other office visit. This included yearly wellness exams in the doctor’s office, mammograms, colonoscopies, basic lab work, and immunizations. Effective September 1st, members will not have any out-of-pocket expenses for these services. (For a complete description of what is covered, go to
www.ahrq.gov/clinic/pocketgd1011/gcp10s1.htm for the procedures and to
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/default.htm for the vaccines.)
Over the past few years we have monitored our rates for screening tests. We’ve known that we could do better on mammograms, pap smears, and colonoscopies. Now there is no financial excuse for not having these tests done. They do require a little time, but they are free to the member.
Many of my patients are hesitant to have colonoscopies. They say that the prep is very difficult, and they just don’t want to do it. I’ve had my colonoscopy, and I know what they mean about the prep. But, if the test doesn’t show polyps or cancer, they won’t have to do another one for 10 years. On the other hand, if the test does show polyps or cancer, they have bigger issues to deal with.
Call your doctor today to take advantage of this benefit. Removing the financial barriers to basic preventive care is a good thing. Now the only barriers are time and a willingness to get this done. We can all make the time, and we should all be willing to put forth the effort to give our bodies the basic preventive care they deserve. Many of us take better care of our cars than we do of ourselves.
