The US government will not force insurers to cover all preventive care

The US government has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have required health insurers to cover certain preventive services without cost-sharing. This means insurers will not be forced to cover services like HIV prevention drugs or contraception without charging patients.

For years, the Affordable Care Act has required most health plans to cover preventive services without charging patients. This proposed rule would have clarified and expanded what counts as a preventive service, especially for services like HIV prevention and contraception. By withdrawing it, the government leaves the existing, less specific rules in place, which means insurers have more leeway to decide what they cover and how much they charge.