In recent years, several issues important to women in the state of Illinois were revised and revamped. These relate to everything from Birth Control, Breast Exams and Mammograms to HPV vaccines. Some of the recent changes include:
Breast Exams – All individual and group health insurance and HMO policies must provide coverage for complete and thorough breast examinations. These must be allowed to take place once every three years for women aged 20 to 39, and annually for women 40 and above. Mammograms also must be covered under group and HMO policies, to examine for the presence of breast cancer, even if no symptoms are present.
Breast Surgery – All group, individual and HMO plans must provide coverage for breast surgeries, including mastectomies, reconstructive surgery and other types of procedures related to the above. This coverage may be subject to annual deductibles.
Breast Cancer Medication and Therapy – All group, individual and HMO policies must provide coverage for pain medication and pain therapy as necessary to the patient, and relevant to the treatment of breast cancer.
HPV Vaccine – This became effective in 2007. All individual, group and HMO policies must provide coverage for vaccination for the human papillomavirus.
Maternity – HMOs are required to cover maternity, including prenatal and post natal care, care in the event of complications in pregnancy or labor, and care for a newborn.
Osteoporosis – Group, individual and HMO policies must provide coverage foe medically necessary bone mass measurement, and for diagnosis and treatments of osteoporosis.
Ovarian Cancer – Group, individual and HMO plans must pay for testing and screening for Ovarian cancer, for females who are at risk for the disease.
PAP Smears – Group and HMP policies must pay for at least one annual cervical smear or pap smear test.