What requirement defines Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) in US health insurance coverage?
A set of ten categories of services and items most health insurance plans must cover
Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) represent a mandated baseline level of essential care that health insurance plans must cover if they are offered through specific avenues like the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid expansion plans, or small group markets. This requirement exists to prevent insurance policies from offering minimal protection when a significant health issue arises. The structure consists of precisely ten defined categories of services and items. While other entities like the Department of Labor issue guidance, the definition of EHBs itself is rooted in these ten required service categories designed to ensure comprehensive, albeit basic, protection across the individual and small group markets.
