NPR has compiled a list of “Seven Things You Missed In The New Health Law”. The number one item: free coverage for preventive care. Earlier this week, the White House issued new rules requiring health insurers to cover at 100% such services as breast cancer screenings, cholesterol blood tests, and routine vaccinations, as well as stop-smoking and obesity counseling, plus several dozen more. While “grandfathering” will allow existing health plans to retain their current prevention coverage levels (including co-pays and deductibles, if applicable), any future changes to those plans could nullify that option.

In addition to free prevention, slipped-through-the-cracks reform provisions noted in the NPR article include a nonprofit institute that will examine various medical treatments to determine which ones work best, financial assistance to early retirees, an expansion of Medicaid… and so on.

Obviously, tracking all these health care reforms can be daunting (or exasperating – take your pick). But fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone – MedBen continues to offer employer seminars throughout the Midwest this summer. For more information about upcoming events, contact Bonnie Morton at (800) 423-3151, Ext. 398 or bmorton@medben.com.