How is preventive care typically treated in many health plans?

• A. It requires high cost-sharing.
• B. It is rarely covered.
• C. It is covered with little or no cost-sharing under many ACA-compliant plans.
• D. It requires prior authorization every time.

Answer: (C)

Preventive care is typically treated as zero or minimal cost-sharing in many health plans, especially ACA-compliant plans. The ACA requires that most preventive services—such as routine screenings (like mammograms and colonoscopies), immunizations, and counseling—be covered without out-of-pocket costs when received from in-network providers. This design aims to encourage people to use preventive services early, which can improve health outcomes and reduce long-term costs. So the standard is no or little cost-sharing for these in-network preventive services. The alternatives don’t fit because high cost-sharing, rare coverage, or mandatory frequent prior authorizations aren’t how ACA-compliant preventive benefits are typically structured.