Is BlueCrossBlueShield Grandfathered into the Birth Control Health Care Law?

What is the Birth Control Health Care Law?

The birth control health care law, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), mandates that health insurance plans cover all FDA-approved contraceptives without co-pay or deductible. This law helps women to access a wide range of birth control options, which can help them plan their families and improve their overall health.

The ACA provides certain exemptions to this law for some employers. Grandfathered health plans and religious organizations are exempt from providing coverage for birth control. However, the recent changes in the healthcare laws have raised questions about whether BlueCrossBlueShield (BCBS) is grandfathered into the birth control health care law.

What Is a Grandfathered Health Plan?

A grandfathered health plan is a health insurance policy that was in effect before the ACA was signed into law on March 23, 2010. These health plans are not required to comply with many of the ACA’s provisions, including the requirement to cover preventive services without cost-sharing.

A grandfathered health plan is allowed to maintain its status as long as it does not make significant changes to its coverage or cost-sharing. If a grandfathered health plan makes changes that result in decreased benefits or increased cost-sharing, it loses its grandfathered status and must comply with the ACA’s provisions.

Is BlueCrossBlueShield Grandfathered into the Birth Control Health Care Law?

The answer is not straightforward. BCBS, like many other health insurance providers, offers a variety of health plans to its customers. Some of these plans are grandfathered, while others are not. It is important to note that any plans that BCBS offered after March 23, 2010, are not grandfathered and must comply with the ACA’s provisions.

However, BCBS may still offer some grandfathered health plans to its customers. This means that some of their health plans may not cover contraceptives without a copay or deductible. The ACA allows grandfathered health plans to maintain their status as long as they do not make significant changes to their coverage or cost-sharing.

If you are a BCBS customer, you should check with your employer or insurance provider to find out if your plan is grandfathered or not. If your plan is grandfathered, you may not have access to all FDA-approved contraceptives without cost-sharing.

What Are My Birth Control Options if My Health Plan Is Grandfathered?

If you are a BCBS customer with a grandfathered health plan, you may still be able to access birth control without cost-sharing through other means. For example, you may be eligible for free or low-cost contraceptives through a government program like Medicaid or through a community health center.

Additionally, some employers offer supplemental plans that cover contraceptives outside of their grandfathered health plans. You could also research purchasing a health plan through a health insurance exchange that covers birth control without a copay or deductible.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the answer to whether BlueCrossBlueShield is grandfathered into the birth control health care law is not black and white. BCBS, like many other health insurance providers, may offer both grandfathered and non-grandfathered health plans. It is important to check with your employer or insurance provider to find out which type of plan you have.

If you have a grandfathered health plan and are unable to access birth control without cost-sharing, there are other options available to you. You may be eligible for free or low-cost contraceptives through a government program or community health center. Additionally, you could research alternative insurance plans or employer-sponsored supplemental plans that include birth control coverage.