What does Essential Health Benefits (EHB) refer to?

Essential Health Benefits (EHB) refers to the minimum coverage requirements that health insurance plans must provide under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This mandates that all health insurance plans sold on the Health Insurance Marketplace, as well as those offered by Medicaid, cover a core set of health services deemed essential for maintaining health and well-being. These benefits include services such as emergency care, maternity and newborn care, mental health treatment, prescription drugs, and preventive services, among others.

This requirement was established to ensure that individuals seeking insurance have access to a comprehensive range of necessary health services, promoting overall public health and reducing the financial burden of medical expenses on consumers. Therefore, understanding EHB is crucial for both consumers selecting health insurance and for insurance providers creating compliant plans.