文章基本信息

标题：Women’s Awareness of Their Contraceptive Benefits Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
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作者：Cynthia H. Chuang ; Julie L. Mitchell ; Diana L. Velott 等
期刊名称：American journal of public health
印刷版ISSN：0090-0036
出版年度：2015
卷号：105
期号：Suppl 5
页码：S713-S715
DOI：10.2105/AJPH.2015.302829
语种：English
出版社：American Public Health Association
摘要：The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act mandates that there be no out-of-pocket cost for Food and Drug Administration–approved contraceptive methods. Among 987 privately insured reproductive aged Pennsylvania women, fewer than 5% were aware that their insurance covered tubal sterilization, and only 11% were aware that they had full coverage for an intrauterine device. For the Affordable Care Act contraceptive coverage mandate to affect effective contraception use and reduce unintended pregnancies, public awareness of the expanded benefits is essential. Half of the pregnancies in the United States are unintended. 1 Cost is a barrier to contraceptive use; in fact, when contraception is provided at no cost, women choose more effective and more expensive methods, such as long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs)—which include intrauterine devices (IUDs) and contraceptive implants—and have fewer unintended pregnancies. 2,3 The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; Pub L No. 111–148) eliminates the cost barrier to contraception for most women with private health insurance by mandating coverage without patient cost sharing for Food and Drug Administration–approved contraceptive methods and tubal sterilization. 4 Although this contraceptive coverage requirement went into effect in August 2012, 5 whether privately insured women are aware of their newly expanded contraceptive benefits is unknown.