What Is Preventive Care and Is It Really Free?

Preventive Care Is Free Under the ACA

The Affordable Care Act requires most health insurance plans to cover a set of preventive services at no cost to you — no copay, no deductible, regardless of whether you've met your annual deductible.

⚠️ This applies to ACA-compliant plans. Grandfathered plans (from before 2010) may not be required to cover preventive services free of charge.

What Counts as Free Preventive Care

Annual wellness visits and physicals
Blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes screenings
Mammograms and cervical cancer screenings
Colorectal cancer screenings (colonoscopy)
Immunizations (flu, COVID, tetanus, hepatitis, etc.)
Depression screening
Obesity counseling
Tobacco cessation counseling
Contraception methods and counseling
Well-child visits and developmental screenings

The "Preventive Care" Trap

Be careful — a "preventive" visit can turn non-preventive if your doctor treats or discusses a specific condition during the visit. If your physical turns into a sick visit because you mention symptoms, that portion of the visit may be billed separately with your normal cost-sharing.

💡 If you want to keep a visit purely preventive (and free), schedule separate appointments for preventive screenings and any specific health concerns.

Finding Covered Preventive Services

The full list of covered preventive services is maintained by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) at uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org. Your insurer must cover services with an "A" or "B" recommendation.

Calculate What You'd Owe for Non-Preventive Care

Use our cost calculator for any visit that isn't purely preventive.

Calculate What You'd Owe for Non-Preventive Care →

Frequently Asked Questions

Does preventive care count toward my deductible?

No — preventive care covered under the ACA does not count toward your deductible because you pay nothing for it. It is completely separate from your cost-sharing obligations.

Is my annual physical free?

Yes, for most ACA-compliant plans. However, be careful — if your doctor treats a specific condition or orders additional tests during your physical, those additional services may have cost-sharing. The physical itself should be free.

Are vaccines free with health insurance?

Yes — ACA-recommended vaccines are covered free including flu shots, COVID vaccines, and childhood immunizations. Make sure you get the vaccine at an in-network provider or pharmacy to ensure it's covered at no cost.