Administration closes insurance loopholes on prevention, from contraception to colonoscopies

The Obama administration is closing insurance loopholes on coverage of preventive services, from contraception to colonoscopies.

The department of Health and Human Services said Monday insurers must cover at least one birth control method in each of 18 categories approved by the FDA — at no extra cost to patients.

Also, insurers can't charge patients for anesthesia services in connection with a colonoscopy to screen for cancer risk.

President Barack Obama's health care law requires most insurance to cover recommended preventive services at no additional charge to patients, including the pill and other contraception alternatives.

But independent experts and women's groups had recently found coverage gaps for some birth control methods. Insurers complained that federal rules did not provide enough detail.