Affordable Care Act & Essential Health Benefits

Today, health insurance covers a wide range of benefits but exactly what is included can vary based on where someone lives and the policy they purchase. Beginning January 2014, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will create a more uniform standard, requiring that all health insurance coverage for individuals and small groups includes certain treatments and procedures deemed “essential health benefits.” Large groups are not required to comply with the essential health benefits requirements. The underlying idea is that the “essential benefits package” be equal to the coverage offered under a “typical employer plan.” Ten general categories were identified as essential health benefits:

• Ambulatory patient services;

• Emergency services;

• Hospitalization;

• Maternity and newborn care;

• Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices;

• Laboratory services;

•  Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment;

• Prescription drugs;

• Preventive and wellness and chronic disease management; and

• Pediatric services, including oral and vision care.

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our professional agents. Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.

The information in this article was taken from Nchealthreform.com on 3/7/2012.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 14th, 2013 at 4:13 pm and is filed under BCBSNC Insurance, Health Care Reform. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.