The US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced on July 10, that more than 16 Million Medicare beneficiaries have already received free preventive care services in the first six months of 2012 due to the Affordable Care Act (President Obama’s signature Health Care Law, which some call “Obamacare”).
Included in the 16 million are 1.35 million seniors who have taken advantage of the free Annual Wellness Visit provided to seniors on Medicare by the Affordable Care Act. In 2011, 32.5 million people on Medicare received one or more preventive care services free of charge, thanks to the Affordable Care Act.
Among the free preventive care services available to those on Medicare, in addition to the free Annual Wellness Visit, are cancer screenings, mammograms and other preventive services.
“Prior to 2011, people with Medicare faced cost-sharing for many preventive benefits such as cancer screenings. Through the Affordable Care Act, preventive benefits are offered free of charge to beneficiaries, with no deductible or co-pay, so that cost is no longer a barrier for seniors who want to stay healthy and treat problems early,” according to a news release issued by HHS on July 10.
Following is a copy of the news release issued by the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) on July 10, 2012:
News Release
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 10, 2012 |
Contact: HHS Press Office (202) 690-6343 |
More than 16 million people with Medicare get free preventive services in 2012
Affordable Care Act made many preventive services no cost to beneficiaries
The Affordable Care Act – the new health care law – helped over 16 million people with original Medicare get at least one preventive service at no cost to them during the first six months of 2012, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today. This includes 1.35 million who have taken advantage of the Annual Wellness Visit provided by the Affordable Care Act. In 2011, 32.5 million people in Medicare received one or more preventive benefits free of charge.
“Millions of Americans are getting cancer screenings, mammograms and other preventive services for free thanks to the health care law,” said Secretary Sebelius. “These new benefits, made possible through the health care law, are helping people stay healthy by giving them the tools they need to prevent health problems before they happen.”
Prior to 2011, people with Medicare faced cost-sharing for many preventive benefits such as cancer screenings. Through the Affordable Care Act, preventive benefits are offered free of charge to beneficiaries, with no deductible or co-pay, so that cost is no longer a barrier for seniors who want to stay healthy and treat problems early.
The law also added an important new service for people with Medicare — an Annual Wellness Visit with the doctor of their choice— at no cost to beneficiaries.
For more information on Medicare-covered preventive services, please visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/65-older/medicare-preventive-services/index.html
To learn what screenings, vaccinations and other preventive services doctors recommend for you and those you care about, please visit the myhealthfinder tool at www.healthfinder.gov.
For More Information
- Learn more about Medicare Preventive Services (on HealthCare.gov)
- Top Things to Know for Seniors (from HealthCare.gov)
- Visit HealthFinder.gov to learn more about prevention
Read more about the Affordable Care Act at HealthCare.gov, find out what’s changing and when, and learn more about how the law helps you.
For more news and information on the Affordable Care Act and health care reform, see the HelpingYouCare™ resource pages on VoicesForCare™, including:
- News on Health Care Reform;
- Editorials: What Needs Improvement, With Your Comments;
- Advocacy: Proposals for Reform, With Your Comments;
- Legislation: Pending & Recently Adopted; and
- International Health Care Compare: Information on Health Care & Long-Term Care Solutions in Other Countries.
_____________
Copyright © 2012 Care-Help LLC, publisher of HelpingYouCare™. All rights reserved.
Recent Comments from our Online Community