Preventative Services Covered by MEC

Minimum essential coverage is health insurance that meets the Affordable Care Act requirements. Employers have a requirement to offer at least Minimum Essential Coverage to any benefit-eligible employee. Non-compliance can result in a penalty of $214.17 PER eligible employee per month without coverage.

Take a look at our MEC calculator to discover how much you can save by investing in MEC for your employees.

At SBMA, we aim to offer affordable, flexible, and compliant coverage for all employers.

Table of Contents

What Does Basic MEC Cover?

Our Basic MEC plans cover 100% of preventive services and wellness visits to the doctor. In addition, all members have access to 24/7/365 telehealth services and discounts on generic and brand prescriptions.

These plans are the most affordable option under Minimum Essential Coverage.

What Does Ultimate MEC Cover?

Ultimate MEC covers the preventative services and wellness visits mentioned above, as well as primary care and specialist visits with a $15 copay. As well as urgent care, labs, and X-rays with a $50 copay.

24/7/365 telehealth services are included under this plan, along with access to behavioral health telehealth services

Prescriptions under the Ultimate MEC plan are covered based on your coverage tier.

*$50 fee max 3 per year

Preventative Services Covered Under MEC

Both plans cover preventative services and wellness visits. The services covered depend on age and gender. Here’s a look at the coverage offered under preventative services:

Covered Preventative Services for Adults

Abdominal aortic aneurysm one-time screening for men of specified ages who have ever smoked
Alcohol misuse screening and counseling
Aspirin used to prevent cardiovascular disease in men and women of certain ages
Blood pressure screening for all adults
Cholesterol screening for adults of certain ages or at higher risk
Colorectal cancer screening for adults over 50
Depression screening for adults
Diabetes (Type 2) screening for adults with high blood pressure
Diet counseling for adults at higher risk for chronic disease
Falls prevention (with exercise or physical therapy and vitamin D use) for adults 65 years and over
Hepatitis B screening for people at higher risk
Hepatitis C screening for adults at increased risk, and one time for everyone born 1945 –1965
HIV screening for everyone ages 15 to 65, and other ages at increased risk
Immunization vaccines for adults — doses, recommended ages, and recommended populations vary: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Herpes Zoster, Human Papillomavirus, Influenza (flu shot), Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningococcal, Pneumococcal, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis and Varicella
Lung cancer screening for adults 55 – 80 at high risk for lung cancer because they’re heavy smokers or have quit in the past 15 years
Obesity screening and counseling for all adults
Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) prevention counseling for adults at higher risk
Statin preventive medication for adults 40 to 75 years at higher risk
Syphilis screening for all adults at higher risk
Tobacco use screening for all adults and cessation interventions for tobacco users
Tuberculosis screening for certain adults with symptoms at higher risk

Covered Preventative Services for Women

Anemia screening on a routine basis for pregnant women
Breast Cancer Genetic Test Counseling (BRCA) for women at higher risk for breast cancer (counseling only; not testing)
Breast cancer mammography screenings every 1 to 2 years for women over 40
Breast cancer chemoprevention counseling for women at higher risk
Breastfeeding comprehensive support and counseling from trained providers, and access to breastfeeding supplies, for pregnant and nursing women
Cervical cancer screening
Chlamydia Infection screening for younger women and other women at higher risk
Contraception: Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling, as prescribed by a health care provider for women with reproductive capacity (not including abortifacient drugs). This does not apply to health plans sponsored by certain exempt “religious employers.”
Diabetes screening for women with a history of gestational diabetes who aren’t currently pregnant and who haven’t been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before
Domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling for all women
Folic acid supplements for women who may become pregnant
Gestational diabetes screening for women 24 to 28 weeks pregnant and those at high risk of developing gestational diabetes
Gonorrhea screening for all women at higher risk
Hepatitis B screening for pregnant women at their first prenatal visit
HIV screening and counseling for sexually active women
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA Test every 5 years for women with normal cytology results who are 30 or older
Osteoporosis screening for women over age 60 depending on risk factors
Preeclampsia prevention and screening for pregnant women and follow-up testing for women at higher risk
Rh Incompatibility screening for all pregnant women and follow-up testing for women at higher risk
Sexually transmitted infections counseling for sexually active women
Syphilis screening for all pregnant women or other women at increased risk
Tobacco use screening and interventions for all women, and expanded counseling for pregnant tobacco users
Urinary tract or other infection screening, including urinary incontinence
Well-woman visits to get recommended services for women under 65

Covered Preventative Services for Children

Alcohol and drug use assessments for adolescents
Autism screening for children at 18 and 24 months
Behavioral assessments for children at the following ages: 0 to 11 months, 1 to 4 years, 5 to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, 15 to 17 years.
Bilirubin concentration screening for newborns
Blood pressure screening for children at the following ages: 0 to 11 months, 1 to 4 years, 5 to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, 15 to 17 years
Blood screening for newborns
Cervical dysplasia screening for sexually active females
Depression screening for adolescents
Developmental screening for children under age 3
Dyslipidemia screening for children at higher risk of lipid disorders at the following ages: 1 to 4 years, 5 to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, 15 to 17 years.
Fluoride chemoprevention supplements for children without fluoride in their water source
Fluoride varnish for all infants and children as soon as teeth are present
Gonorrhea preventive medication for the eyes of all newborns
Hearing screening for all newborns, and for children once between 11 and 14 years, once between 15 and 17 years, and once between 18 and 21 years
Height, weight, and Body Mass Index measurements for children at the following ages: 0 to 11 months, 1 to 4 years, 5 to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, 15 to 17 years.
Hematocrit or hemoglobin screening for all children
Hemoglobinopathies or sickle cell screening for newborns
Hepatitis B screening for adolescents ages 11 to 17 years at high risk
HIV screening for adolescents at higher risk
Hypothyroidism screening for newborns
Immunization vaccines for children from birth to age 18 — doses, recommended ages and recommended populations vary: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus influenza type B, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus, Inactivated Poliovirus, Influenza (Flu Shot), Measles, Meningococcal, Pneumococcal, Rotavirus and Varicella
Iron supplements for children ages 6 to 12 months at risk for anemia
Lead screening for children at risk of exposure
Maternal depression screening for mothers of infants at 1, 2, 4, and 6-month visits
Medical history for all children throughout development at the following ages: 0 to 11 months, 1 to 4 years, 5 to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, 15 to 17 years.
Obesity screening and counseling
Oral Health risk assessment for young children Ages: 0 to 11 months, 1 to 4 years, 5 to 10 years.
Phenylketonuria (PKU) screening for this genetic disorder in newborns
Sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention counseling and screening for adolescents at higher risk
Tuberculin testing for children at higher risk of tuberculosis at the following ages: 0 to 11 months, 1 to 4 years, 5 to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, 15 to 17 years.
Vision screening for all children.