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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Health Care Law, which takes effect tomorrow, will give 47 million American women free preventive services.

Women will have access to eight new prevention-related health care services without paying more out of their own pocket beginning Aug. 1, according to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Previously some insurance companies did not cover these preventive services for women under their health plans, while some women had to pay deductibles or co-pays for the care they needed to stay healthy.

According to a new HHS report also released today, approximately 47 million women are in health plans that must cover these new preventive services at no charge. Women, not insurance companies, can now make health decisions that will keep them healthy, catch potentially serious conditions at an earlier state, and protect them and their families from crushing medical bills.

"President Obama is moving our country forward by giving women control over their health care," Secretary Sebelius said. "This law puts women and their doctors, not insurance companies or the government, in charge of health care decisions."

The eight new prevention-related services are:
· Well-woman visits
· Gestational diabetes screening that helps protect pregnant women from one of the most serious pregnancy-related diseases
· Domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling
· FDA-approved contraceptive methods, and contraceptive education and counseling
· Breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling
· HPV DNA testing, for women 30 or older
· Sexually transmitted infections counseling for sexually-active women
· HIV screening and counseling for sexually-active women

The health care law has already helped women in private plans and Medicare for the first time gain access to potentially life-saving tests and services, such as mammograms, cholesterol screenings and flu shots without coinsurance or deductibles. Today's announcement builds on these benefits, generally requiring insurance companies to offer, with no co-pay, additional vital screenings and tests to help keep women healthy throughout their lives.

These services are based on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine, which relied on independent physicians, nurses, scientists, and other experts as well as evidence-based research to develop its recommendations.

Group health plans and issuers that have maintained grandfathered status are not required to cover these services. In addition, certain nonprofit religious organizations, such as churches and schools, are not required to cover these services.

For women who are pregnant or nursing, the new preventive services include gestational diabetes screening as well as breast-feeding support, counseling and supplies. Health services already provided under the health care law include folic acid supplements for women who may become pregnant, Hepatitis B screening for pregnant women and anemia screening for pregnant women.

Women Medicare beneficiaries may already receive such preventive services as annual wellness visits, mammograms, and bone mass measurement for those at risk of osteoporosis and diabetes screening. Approximately 24.7 million women with Medicare used at least one free preventive service in 2011, including the new annual wellness visit.

Men and children are also able to take advantage of preventive services at no extra charge under the health care law. These services include flu shots and other immunizations, screenings for cancers, high blood pressure and cholesterol and depression.

To learn more about the health care services you may be eligible for at no extra charge under the Affordable Care Act, go to:

Stay tuned to News 4 at 4:00 for a complete report on the services offered in the Health Care Law.