QUESTION

I heard marketplace plans have to cover certain health benefits referred to as essential. What are essential health benefits?

Individuals with no coverage | Comparing Plans: Benefits and Costs
ANSWER

All qualified health plans offered in the marketplace (as well as non-grandfathered individual plans sold outside the marketplace) will cover essential health benefits. Categories of essential health benefits include:

  • Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care you get without being admitted to a hospital)
  • Emergency services
  • Hospitalization
  • Maternity and newborn care (care before and after your baby is born)
  • Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment
  • Prescription drugs
  • Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices (services and devices to help people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions gain or recover mental and physical skills)
  • Laboratory services
  • Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
  • Pediatric services, including dental and vision care

The precise details of what is covered within these categories may vary somewhat from plan to plan. (45 C.F.R. ยง 147.150).

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