New health plans will soon be required to offer a range of recommended preventive health services to patients free of charge under the Affordable Care Act. The requirements will affect new private health plans in the individual and group markets starting with plan years that begin on or after Sept. 23. The Health and Human Services department estimates that in 2011, the rules will impact about 30 million people in group health plans and another 10 million in individual market plans. The rules do not apply to grandfathered plans.
