Essential Benefits

The ACA requires health plans, beginning in 2014, to provide a certain set of minimum benefits similar to what employers typically offer today.  The law outlines 10 general categories of benefits that are to be used as a benchmark when determining what qualifies as an “essential health benefits package.” These categories go beyond the coverage that many individuals and small businesses purchase today – meaning millions of Americans will have to “buy up” to purchase more coverage than they currently have.  Further expansion of the essential health benefits requirement will result in less affordable coverage for individuals, families and small employers by forcing them to “buy up” and purchase more coverage than they may want or need.

Latest Documents

AHIP Issue Brief on Essential Health Benefits (UPDATED) - [PDF]

 

Reports/Fact Sheets/Briefs/Talking Points | Federal | 08/16/2012

Essential Health Benefits: What You Need to Know - [PDF]

 

Reports/Fact Sheets/Briefs/Talking Points | Strategic Communications | 07/13/2012

AHIP Statement on Essential Health Benefits

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) President and CEO Karen Ignagni released the following statement on new guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services on essential health benefits. 

Press Releases | Strategic Communications | 12/16/2011

AHIP Statement on IOM Report on Essential Health Benefits

AHIP President and CEO Karen Ignagni issued the following statement regarding the Institute of Medicine’s new report, Essential Health Benefits, Balancing Coverage and Cost.

Press Releases | Strategic Communications | 10/06/2011

AHIP's Karen Ignagni National Journal Blog Post on Essential Health Benefits

AHIP CEO Karen Ignagni wrote a blog post for National Journal on how the essential health benefits package must be structured so that it preserves affordability for consumers.

AHIP Coverage Blog Posts | Strategic Communications | 10/06/2011

Issue Alert: Fortune Magazine Examines the Impact of Essential Benefits on Small Employers, Taxpayers

Fortune's Shawn Tully examines the provision of the ACA that could have the biggest impact on costs for small employers and taxpayers: the essential benefits package.

AHIP Coverage Blog Posts | Strategic Communications | 05/04/2011

Statement on Essential Health Benefits to the IOM Committee on the Determination of Essential Health Benefits - [PDF]

Testimony from Carmella Bocchino, Executive Vice President of Clinical Affairs and Strategic Planning for AHIP, who participated on a panel discussion at the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) meeting on the determination of essential health benefits.

Comments and Letters | 01/13/2011