ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Starting Aug. 1, a healthcare law will give women control over their care by offering free preventive services to 47 million women.
Forty-seven million women will have access to eight new prevention-related healthcare services without paying more out of their own pocket beginning Aug. 1, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Previously some insurance companies did not cover preventive services for women at all under their health plans.
Some women had to pay deductibles or copays for the care they needed.
For the first time ever, women will have access to even more life-saving preventive care free of charge.
"President Obama is moving our country forward by giving women control over their healthcare," Secretary Sebelius said. "This law puts women and their doctors, not insurance companies or the government, in charge of health care decisions."
Women will also say good-bye to paying a co-pay for birth control.
The eight new prevention-related services are:
•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.
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