On Monday, I went to the doctor for my annual physical checkup. As this was clearly one of those "preventative" appointments for which the ACA mandates there be no copay, I naturally expected not to have to fork over any money for the visit. And, indeed, when I walked in, the nice lady at the desk said that there would be no copay charged for that day's appointment.
Imagine my surprise, then, when a few days later a bill came in the mail. Now, let me say right up front that I have very good health insurance through my employer and that the copay is a mere $10, which I can easily afford. So it isn't the amount of money that is the issue but the principle. So I called the number for the billing department of my insurance company to find out why I was being charged a copay for what was obviously a preventative-care appointment. What I was told by the man on the other end of the phone - whom I could tell had fielded this type of inquiry many times before - was that if a single thing is done or even so much as discussed that doesn't qualify as "preventative" in nature, the insurance company will bill it as an "office visit" and charge the patient a copay.
In my case, the only thing I could think of that might have triggered such a charge is that the doctor altered one of the medications I take for high blood pressure. It would seem logical that high blood pressure is not a condition in and of itself (like actual heart disease) and that any attempt to lower it would qualify as "preventative," but who's to say how the insurance company sees it. It does, however, seem a bit underhanded and disingenuous on their part to mislead patients in such a way.
So, be forewarned. Check ahead of time with your doctor, office staff or insurance company when next you go in for "preventative" care and find out what is and isn't acceptable within those parameters.