A new report released by the National Women's Law Center calls out insurance companies for violating women's health requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
The report, which analyzed coverage offered on health insurance marketplaces by more than 100 insurance companies in 15 states during 2014 and 2015, details violations related to maternity care, birth control, breast-feeding support and supplies, genetic testing, well-woman visits, prescription drug coverage, care related to gender transition for transgender individuals, chronic pain treatment and certain pre-existing conditions, according to a news release. The report also points to examples of discriminatory practices, such as denying maternity coverage to daughters of subscribers, the release reads.
The National Women's Law Center also did a companion report that goes deeper into coverage of FDA-approved birth control methods.
Here are six findings from the reports.
1. Fifty-six issuers across 13 states offer coverage of preventive services that does not comply with the PPACA.
2. Fourteen issuers across seven states offer maternity coverage that does not comply with the PPACA. Violations of maternity coverage requirements listed in the report include: excluding maternity coverage for dependent enrollees, restricting pregnant women's access to maternity services outside of the plan's service area and establishing arbitrary limits on maternity benefits, such as a single ultrasound.
3. Three issuers in two states require cost-sharing for preventive services in violation of the PPACA. Violations of preventive services coverage requirements listed in the report include: imposing cost-sharing on all of women’s preventive services and subjecting preventive services to the plan deductible in some cases.
4. Twenty issuers in six states impose impermissible limits on coverage of breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling. Violations of breastfeeding coverage requirements listed in the report include: limiting coverage of breast pumps, as well as limiting coverage of lactation counseling and education.
5. Thirty-three issuers in 13 states offer birth control coverage that does not comply with the PPACA. Violations of birth control coverage requirements listed in the report include: failure to cover all FDA-approved methods, cost-sharing on birth control, limits on services associated with birth control and age limits on birth control.
6. There were widespread violations of the PPACA's requirement that all FDA-approved birth control methods be covered without co-payments or deductibles. Specifically, some insurance plans impose out-of-pocket costs on them, according to the National Women's Law Center. Additionally, according to the center, some plans will only cover generic birth control, and some plans impose costs on the services associated with birth control methods.