HIV Testing Likely To Be Covered Under Obamacare

Under Obama’s health reform law, HIV testing is likely to be covered as a part of regular preventative care, potentially becoming as standard as checking blood pressure levels. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is expected to update their position on HIV screening — which currently leaves the decision to test for HIV up to each individual doctor, which hasn’t changed since 2005 — to recommend routine screenings. Other health officials, including the Centers for Disease Control, have already called for routine HIV screenings to help reach a broader population and eliminate the lingering anti-gay stigma surrounding the disease. Since Obamacare requires health insurers to cover the preventive services recommended by the Preventative Services Task Force, a new standard for HIV testing may make it a regular part of annual check-ups.