HIV Testing Now Covered Under Obamacare

And it's recommended for everyone aged 15-65

HIV testing for all Americans is now covered under Obamacare, because it's been declared a form of "preventive care" - in the same way as birth control.

That's come about because the US Preventative Task Force, a government panel of medical experts, has recommended HIV testing for every American aged 15 to 65.

The Affordable Care Act mandates that insurers cover all of the preventative services that are recommended by the Task Force. Hence regular HIV testing will now be free for all Americans under Obamacare.

In addition, Obamacare's pre-existing conditions rule means that thousands or perhaps millions of Americans living with HIV and AIDS will now be able to get health insurance, whereas they struggled to do in the past. The rule against lifetime caps on coverage will also help sufferers with HIV.

Via ABC News and the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Should HIV testing be covered for everyone under Obamacare?

[Souljah]

yes!! this is what Preventive medical care is about is it not?

[scotta]

Why should the tax payer foot this bill. If the people want to fool around in protected they should foot the bill. Also drug users. If they are stupid enough to use dirty needles they are asking for trouble.

[dances-weebles]

@scotta aids effects everyone. did you realise that more than 50% of all newly reported cases of hiv/aids last year was among monogamously married black women? not only that, but beijing reported that hiv/aids cases are at epidemic proportions among monogamous married women. aids no longer fits into your stereotypes... i'm sorry. maybe you should get tested, too.

[EMS_Servant]

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[Sabio]

once you have it you have it, there is and will be no cure,,,,,get over it.

[Sabio]

@dances-weebles why is it taxpayers problem that these monogamous black women have dogs for boy-toys?

[artjeb]

If ppl want to screw around let them pay for thier actions.
Why should taxpayers pay for someone else's actions ?

[PoliticalSpice]

The reason is simple, people who do not fool around are affected too. That is what public health is all about. Testing to help identify carriers of infectious disease helps prevent the spread of those diseases and associated ailments, and helps medical authorities spot changes in the disease itself, such as evolution in this virus which could make it more dangerous.

[Republican5001]

@PoliticalSpice How are people, who do not fool around, affected? Affordable health care act is socialized medicine. Socialism leads to communism.

[Rocker]

@PoliticalSpice - This is an interesting concept put forth. But nobody examines the issue of auto insurance for a given state or city. Rates are based on the number of accidents that the insurance companies pay out. So this is basically the same thing. If you happen to be one of those not having had an auto accident or comprehensive claim, you still pay higher than a place would that does not have the higher incident rates. Since the tornadoes came through a couple of years ago, homeowner rates and the deductibles have gone up around our state and they told you why and how much.

[dances-weebles]

@Republican5001 that's just silly.

[Republican5001]

@dances-weebles reading your manifesto again?

[Registre56]

Nice, next condoms will be on the house!

[woodtick57]

as they should be. far cheaper than unplanned pregnancies.

[martydotcom]

@woodtick57 who would be against unplanned pregnancies pro lifers???

[woodtick57]

@martydotcom

Who isn't pro-life?

[dances-weebles]

they already are in most public schools and even in a lot of mcdonalds restaurants.

[martydotcom]

@woodtick57 pro life as opposed to pro choice - a bit of sarcasm

[Bobolinsky]

What the heck is this "Task Force?" Is it anything like IPAB?

I could easily be wrong but I get the sneaking suspicion that decisions made by the "Task Force" are not challengeable in court... like IPAB.

I've gone through the trouble of pointing out what Palin called the "Death Panel... IPAB...

Can some Prog/Lib out there point out the "Task Force" to me in the PPACA?
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/full/

[woodtick57]

The USPTF was created in the mid 80s. it has nothing to do with Obamacare.

[Penn1699]

Right now it's "optional" Foot in door to make mandatory, like genetic testing. Bad news....

[Bobolinsky]

@woodtick57-- Yeah. And the CRA was created under Carter and the Ed Dept. was created under Nixon... What does that have to do with what it's being morphed into?

[tomincali]

it will cost the rest of us more even though it has been done for free for decades and health departments through most counties,bring the feds in the cost goes up as everything gov gets into.

maybe obamacare should pull all funds for things like this from other countries and sock it all here where it was paid for by those who will use it.

does anyone know how much will be stolen from medicare that everyone has already paid into to cover obama care which was placed into accounts for retired not to be plundered at ever chance.

[Ashstop]

Of course!! Everything should be covered!! The rich will pay for it!! Need a sex change? Come on down !! Breast enhancement? Of course! hair transplant? Hellyea!! Sign me up!! Government has plenty of money!! Well, they know people who do!!

[MongoAPillager]

UNum,I,m follicley challeneged, do you think I can get some hair plugs?

[woodtick57]

@MongoAPillager

if you want to look silly...

[MongoAPillager]

@woodtick57 Hey!I resemble that remark

[woodtick57]

@MongoAPillager

As do i. get a close shave and dont forget the sunscreen up top.

[dances-weebles]

@MongoAPillager no, but for those anally challenged people, they do have butt plugs on special at a store downtown.

[CanisCanemEdit]

I'm not follically challenged....I'm comb free.

[mxdirtdude]

Yes as it protects everyone. Any thing like that should be, whether it is transmitted sexually or airborne should be as it benefits everyone.

[DARSB]

It's a diagnostic test used to diagnose a fatal disease. Of course it should be covered.

[woodtick57]

next they'll want cancer screening! Sheesh...

[culinary]

@woodtick57 I have had cancer screening...my grandmother died of breast cancer. Me, my mom, and daughter have all been screened. And thanks to obamacare, we can't be denied life or health insurance based on the results.

[jessejaymes]

HIV testing should be mandatory. But of course the gays say that would be discriminatory. Which it would not be.

[woodtick57]

You want to mandate the gov't interfering in your life?

[jessejaymes]

@woodtick57 In the case of an epidemic and men out fooling around and bringing it home to their wives and unborn children? Yes I do.

[woodtick57]

@jessejaymes

Its only men out foolin around?

[jessejaymes]

@jessejaymes Why do you act like this? You know very well that the most incidents of ambush infection is by men bringing it home to their partners as a result of men cheating. What kind of perverse enjoyment do you get out of harassing me?

[PNWest]

I'm surprised to see even any conservatives against this. Testing leads to early diagnosis which helps to stop further spread of the disease. All of this lowers costs long term. The only logical reason someone would be against this is if they hoped that people who get infected with HIV would get sick and die.

[Romney2012]

Good bye America, it was nice growing up in you, but it is time we part!

[SavageMazx]

As much as I dislike the idea of Obamacare, yes, it's just another medical proceedure.

[1adam2]

if blood tests, are already covered. there is no need, to endorse specialized testing. this is just a smoke screen, to try and make obamacare, look better to the liberal than what is already available.

[Mbjhug]

I think a lot of people need to get rid of the stigma that HIV/AIDS only befall the sexual promiscuous, the druggie, or the homosexual, but everyone doesn't seem to realize that the virus can be transmitted through birth, as well. Yes, you heard correctly, through no fault of your own you can have this life altering disease. It can also be transmitted via breast milk as well. Yes, it's a shame how it is actually transmitted, but that doesn't mean we have to look at it any less than cancer. Would you be opposed to cancer screenings?