Free birth control requirement begins Wednesday

Starting Wednesday, health insurance companies are required by law to offer free coverage of birth control prescriptions at no cost.

Women will no longer need to pay a co-pay or money toward their deductible for contraceptives.

This requirement is part of President Obama's Affordable Care Act, which was passed by Congress two years ago.

Free contraceptive coverage takes effect at the health plan renewal date or when you start a new health insurance plan. There are some exceptions to the law, so be sure to check with your health insurance company to find out when you will become eligible.

Free birth control is one of eight new preventive services that will now be covered by insurance companies for free.

The services include:

•     Well-woman visits
•     Gestational diabetes screening that helps protect pregnant women from one of the most serious pregnancy-related diseases
•     Domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling
•     FDA-approved contraceptive methods, and contraceptive education and counseling
•     Breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling
•     HPV DNA testing, for women 30 or older
•     Sexually transmitted infections counseling for sexually-active women
•     HIV screening and counseling for sexually-active women

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 47 million women who did not have access to these services in the past, will now be eligible to receive them for free.