What are ACA essential benefits?

Asked by: Bryana Reynolds  |  Last update: April 26, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (46 votes)

The Affordable Care Act requires non-grandfathered health insurance coverage in the individual and small group markets to cover essential health benefits (EHB), which include items and services in at least the following ten benefit categories: (1) ambulatory patient services; (2) emergency services; (3) hospitalization ...

Which of the following are essential health benefits in ACA plans?

A set of 10 categories of services health insurance plans must cover under the Affordable Care Act. These include doctors' services, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, prescription drug coverage, pregnancy and childbirth, mental health services, and more. Some plans cover more services.

What is ACA minimum essential coverage?

Minimum Essential Coverage is defined as the type of health insurance coverage that you must have in order to comply with the individual mandate set forth by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) . From January 1, 2014, and onward, individuals must have MEC insurance or they will be subject to a tax penalty.

Are the 10 essential health benefits cost free?

All Covered California plans have the 10 Essential Health Benefits. The ACA banned annual or lifetime coverage caps on essential health benefits. Preventive care, vaccinations and medical screenings cannot be subject to any cost-sharing when received in network.

What is ACA for benefits?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a comprehensive reform law, enacted in 2010, that increases health insurance coverage for the uninsured and implements reforms to the health insurance market.

10 Essential Benefits of an Obamacare Health Insurance Plan | eHealthInsurance

17 related questions found

What are 5 mandated benefits under the ACA?

The 10 categories of benefits in an EHB package are: 1) ambulatory patient services, 2) emergency services, 3) hospitalization, 4) maternity and newborn care, 5) mental health and substance use disorder services, 6) prescription drugs, 7) rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices, 8) lab services, 9) ...

Who is eligible for the ACA?

Must live in the United States. Must be a U.S. citizen or national (or be lawfully present). Learn about eligible immigration statuses. Cannot be incarcerated in prison or jail.

What are the essential benefits of the ACA?

The Affordable Care Act requires non-grandfathered health insurance coverage in the individual and small group markets to cover essential health benefits (EHB), which include items and services in at least the following ten benefit categories: (1) ambulatory patient services; (2) emergency services; (3) hospitalization ...

What is not considered an essential health benefit?

Which of the following is NOT an essential health benefit found in qualified health plans? Qualified health plans (QHPs) must offer essential health benefits such as emergency, rehabilitative and pediatric services. Dental services are not included in the list of essential health benefits.

What counts as a pre-existing condition?

A “pre-existing condition” is a health condition that exists before someone applies for or enrolls in a new health insurance policy. Insurers generally define what constitutes a pre-existing condition. Some are obvious, like currently having heart disease or cancer.

What is the ACA 95% rule?

The IRS assesses this penalty when (i) an ALE does not offer minimum essential coverage (i.e., generally, coverage under any major medical plan) to at least 95% of its full-time employees and their dependents for a month; and (ii) at least one full-time employee receives a premium tax credit (“PTC”) to purchase ...

What is the ACA maximum out-of-pocket?

Health insurance plans can set their own out-of-pocket maximums, but they're constrained by federal regulations that impose an upper limit on how high out-of-pocket costs can be. 2024: The upper limits are $9,450 for an individual, and $18,900 for multiple family members on the same plan.

What is the ACA affordability test?

The affordability test technically looks to whether that lowest possible employee contribution is within 9.02% (2025) of the employee's household income.

Who determines essential health benefits?

The details of the essential health benefits package will be determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in a future regulation. 1 The law, however, establishes a set of mandated benefit categories and describes which plans will be required to offer the essential health benefits.

Does the Affordable Care Act cover surgery?

10 covered benefits:

Hospitalization (like surgery and overnight stays) Pregnancy and newborn care (both before and after birth) Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment, counseling, and psychotherapy. Prescription drugs.

What are the pros and cons of the Affordable Care Act?

The pros of the ACA include prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage based on health history and providing subsidies to reduce premiums and out-of-pocket costs. The cons of the ACA include small business challenges and limited provider options in some regions.

What is proof of minimum essential coverage for health insurance?

Acceptable Documents for Proof of Minimum Essential Coverage

Notice of Action of discontinuance from Medicaid. Notice of Action of discontinuance from Medi-Cal. Confirmation of disenrollment from your health insurance plan. Confirmation of disenrollment from your employer-sponsored health insurance plan.

What is the essential benefits plan?

The EBP is for Dubai residents who are earning less than AED 4,000 per month, which includes dependents who may not work at all. Those earning more than AED 4,000 are not eligible for the EBP, but as a minimum their medical insurance will meet the standards outlined in the EBP.

Is there a dollar limit on essential health benefits?

Insurance companies can no longer set a dollar limit on what they spend on essential health benefits for your care during the entire time you're enrolled in that plan.

What are non-essential health benefits?

Examples of non-essential benefits might include: Chiropractic muscle manipulation. Diabetes management education. Orthotics.

Which is not one of the 10 essential health services mandated by the Affordable Care Act?

The service that is not one of the ten essential health services mandated by the ACA is Chiropractic care. While some insurance plans may cover chiropractic care, it is not one of the essential health benefits required by the ACA.

Is physical therapy an essential health benefit?

We can look at physical therapy – which is part of the habilitative/rehabilitative EHB – for a good example of how this works in a couple of states: New York has designated an Oxford EPO small group plan as its benchmark.

What is the highest income to qualify for ACA?

In 2025, you'll typically be eligible for ACA subsidies if you earn between $15,060 and $60,240 as a single person. A family of four is eligible with a household income between $31,200 and $124,800.

What are ACA benefits?

Make affordable health insurance available to more people. The law provides consumers with subsidies (“premium tax credits”) that lower costs for households with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Expand the Medicaid program to cover all adults with income below 138% of the FPL.

Who is exempt from ACA?

Hardship exemptions are available for those who cannot afford to pay for health insurance or for whom health insurance would exceed 8.16 percent of their gross household income.