Free preventive services will continue while ACA ruling is appealed, say insurers

Most U.S. health insurers plan to continue offering free preventive health services as a lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act requirement plays out in court. A federal judge in Texas last month imposed a nationwide injunction on a requirement that health insurance must cover preventive services for free.

“The overwhelming majority do not anticipate making changes to no-cost-share preventive services and do not expect disruptions in coverage of preventive care while the case proceeds through the courts,” according to a letter sent to Democratic lawmakers by leading insurers and industry organizations, including America’s Health Insurance Plans, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and the American Benefits Council.

The letter was a response from some of the industry’s largest trade groups to Democrats on key House and Senate health committees. They requested information from a dozen major health insurance companies and trade groups, including Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealth Group and American Benefits Council, on whether they plan to continue covering certain preventive services until all appeals are concluded, including review by the Supreme Court.