HHS touts Obama health law's free preventive care

President Obama's healthcare law provided more than 100 million people with coverage for free health services in 2011 and 2012, according to federal health officials.

The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department touted the law's emphasis on preventive care in a new report Monday.

The figures show that 34 million Medicare beneficiaries took advantage of the law's preventive offerings over the last two years. 

"Preventing illnesses before they become serious and more costly to treat helps Americans of all ages stay healthier," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a statement.

"No longer do Americans have to choose between paying for preventive care and groceries."

The Obama administration is beginning to celebrate the Affordable Care Act's third anniversary, which takes place this Saturday.

The law mandated that most health plans cover services such as standard immunizations, disease screenings and contraception for free — a provision critics say will increase premium costs. 

—This post was updated at 5:06 p.m. to reflect that not everyone who was covered for free preventive services has pursued them. 

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