Upon request, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires every health insurance company to give you a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (www.healthcare.gov). This document explains your benefits and coverage limits in easy-to-understand language
Although some health plans offer additional benefits, state and federal laws require plans to provide the following services:
Note: Most health plans are not allowed to have annual benefit limits. No plans are allowed to have lifetime benefit limits.
Benefits health plans must cover under the federal ACA
Under the ACA, the following 10 essential health benefits (www.healthcare.gov) apply to individual/family and small employer health plans:
- Ambulatory patient services: Covers outpatient care without being admitted to a hospital
- Emergency medical services in an emergency department: Covers services provided in an emergency department if a medical provider believes the patient is having an emergency.
- Hospitalization: Surgery and overnight stays.
- Maternity and newborn care: Coverage for maternity and newborn health care.
- Mental health substance abuse disorder services: Behavioral treatment, mental and behavioral health inpatient services and substance abuse disorder treatment.
- Lab services: Such as blood draws or urinalysis, a medical provider orders.
- Pediatric services: Health care for children from birth to age 19, including dental and vision care.
- Prescription drugs: Medications a medical provider prescribes that patients buy through a pharmacy.
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management: Preventive services (www.healthcare.gov), such as shots and screening tests, at no cost to the patient when a medical provider from the plan's network delivers the service.
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices: Services and devices to gain or recover mental and physical skills for people with injuries, disabilities or chronic conditions.
Benefits health plans must cover under Washington state law
In addition to the health benefits covered under the ACA, certain individual/family and group health plans must also offer specific health benefits according to Washington state law.