The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and myhealthfinder
What is the Affordable Care Act?
The Affordable Care Act is the health care reform law that was passed by Congress and signed by President Obama on March 23, 2010.
The Affordable Care Act requires most health insurance plans to cover a wide range of preventive services, like screening tests and vaccines, without charging a co-pay or other fee. These include all preventive services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as advised by organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics (through the Bright Futures cooperative agreement) and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine).
Find out more about how the health care reform law protects you.
Back to top
How can the Affordable Care Act help me stay healthy?
The preventive service recommendations included in myhealthfinder are covered under the Affordable Care Act. If you have private insurance, you may be able to get these preventive services at no extra cost to you. Many of these services are also covered by Medicare and Medicaid at no extra cost. Check with your insurance provider to find out what’s included in your plan.
See the complete list of covered preventive services.
Back to top
What is the myhealthfinder tool?
The myhealthfinder tool provides personalized recommendations for preventive services based on age, sex, and pregnancy status. These recommendations come from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as advised by organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics (through the Bright Futures cooperative agreement) and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine).
Use the myhealthfinder tool to get a list of preventive services you may need this year. Talk to your doctor or nurse to decide together which services are right for you based on your personal medical history and preferences.
Back to top
How does the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force develop its recommendations?
The USPSTF is an independent panel of medical experts. Its recommendations for preventive services are based on reviews of the scientific literature and are “evidence-based.” This means that the USPSTF will only recommend a preventive service if there is strong evidence to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Find out more about how the USPSTF develops its recommendations.
Sometimes there may not be enough strong evidence for the USPSTF to make a recommendation – but patients and health professionals still need guidance to make health decisions. In these cases, the government relies on the “next best” level of recommendations. These are called “evidence-informed” recommendations. The Bright Futures Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics are an example of this type of recommendation.
Back to top
How are the Bright Futures Guidelines developed?
The Bright Futures Guidelines are developed by HRSA and the American Academy of Pediatrics to support the health and well being of children.
The methodology behind Bright Futures is “evidence-informed.” For some topics, strong evidence isn’t available. In these cases, Bright Futures relies on the extensive experience of medical experts who help write the guidelines.
Back to top
What is the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices?
The ACIP is a panel of medical experts who have been selected by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide advice on immunizations. The committee develops recommendations on who needs shots, at what ages, and how often.
Learn more about ACIP.
Back to top
What is the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Preventive Services for Women?
HRSA asked the IOM (now the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) to review and recommend preventive services important for women’s health. The IOM’s Committee on Preventive Services for Women conducted the review and released a report in July 2011, recommending that the Affordable Care Act require coverage of 8 additional preventive services for women.
As of August 1, 2012, the Affordable Care Act requires most health insurance plans to cover these 8 additional services. The recommended services include well-woman visits, screening for gestational diabetes, and HIV counseling.
Back to top
Where can I get more information?
For more about the clinical preventive services covered under the Affordable Care Act:
For more about the Affordable Care Act:
Back to top
