Women’s Health
While women are typically the primary caregivers of families, there’s one
person they need to take care of first: themself. Getting appropriate and timely
health care, adequate nutrition and activity, and learning to handle stress all
contribute to women’s mental and physical well-being.
Information – key facts and practical tips – empowers women to make
the best decisions regarding their health. Informed women are healthier women, and
their loved ones benefit, too.
A number of preventive health services for women are now covered
at no charge (no copayment, deductible, or coinsurance) when you obtain them from
an HMSA participating provider. These services include:
- Annual well-woman exams, which include a pelvic examination, Pap smear screening,
and clinical breast exam.
- Gestational diabetes screening for women between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy and at
their first prenatal visit if they are at high risk for diabetes.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing every three years for women ages 30 and older
who are at high risk for cervical cancer.
- Annual counseling on sexually transmitted infections for sexually active women.
- Annual human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counseling and screening for sexually
active women.
- Certain prescribed contraceptive methods and counseling.
- Breast-feeding support, supplies, and counseling from a trained physician or midwife
during pregnancy and postpartum, and purchase of breastfeeding equipment (limited
to one breast pump per birth from a participating provider or medical pharmacy).
- Annual screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence.
We encourage you to talk with your health care provider to find out which of these
services are recommended for you.
Women have unique health issues that need special attention; regular checkups and
other prevention measures are important to keep healthy and reduce the risk of chronic
disease. The new federal health care reform guidelines that require coverage for
the above services recognize this. Although the guidelines won’t take effect until
Aug. 1, 2012, HMSA is implemented the changes on July 1, 2012.
To check if you are eligible for these benefits, please call the appropriate number
below:
- Oahu (PPO members): (808) 948-6111
- Oahu (HMO members): (808) 948-6372
- Oahu (EUTF and federal members): (808) 948-6499
- Maui: (808) 871-6295
- Kauai: (808) 245-3393
- Hilo: (808) 935-5441
- Kona: (808) 329-5291
- Toll-free: 1 (800) 776-4672
