What is included in Essential Health Benefits (EHB)?

Essential Health Benefits (EHB) are a set of health care service categories that must be included in individual and small group health plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The inclusion of hospitalization, maternity care, mental health services, and other categories ensures that a comprehensive range of health care needs are addressed.

These benefits cover ten specific categories, which include:

1. Ambulatory patient services: Outpatient care you receive without being admitted to a hospital.

2. Emergency services: Services needed for emergency medical conditions.

3. Hospitalization: Includes inpatient care in a hospital.

4. Maternity and newborn care: Care before, during, and after childbirth.

5. Mental health and substance use disorder services: Includes behavioral health treatment.

6. Prescription drugs: Medications that are prescribed by a healthcare provider.

7. Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices: Services to help people recover skills or maintain skills that have been lost or improved.

8. Laboratory services: Tests to identify health conditions.

9. Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management: Regular check-ups, screenings, and patient counseling to prevent diseases.

10. **Pediatric