After weeks of debate, it's official: The Department of Health
and Human Services announced this morning that starting on
August 1, 2012, insurance companies must cover women's
preventive services, including birth control, as part of the
Affordable Care Act. But what does that even mean? Between the
red tape and the paperwork it takes every time you visit the
doctor's office, things can get pretty confusing! We've got
everything you need to know about how this new provision will
affect you.  1. Preventive services will be free. This provision
mandates that all health insurance companies cover preventive
services, including screenings for conditions such as
gestational diabetes and the human papillomavirus (HPV), and
different forms of birth control. No more co-pays!  2. Religious
organizations can opt out. The provision includes an amendment
that allows religious organizations that offer health insurance
to its employees to opt out of covering birth control.  3. Your
premiums may go up. Although the goal of t