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SOURCE: Zane Benefits
Affordable Care Act Requires Health Plans to Offer a Core Package of Items and Services, known as "Essential Health Benefits"
Park City, Utah (PRWEB) March 03, 2013
Today, Zane Benefits, Inc. published new information on essential health benefits. Zane Benefits, which provides comprehensive and flexible alternatives to traditional employer sponsored health benefits, is the leader in defined contribution and health reimbursement arrangements.
According to Zane Benefits’ website, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a final rule on essential health benefits on February 20, 2013. This rule is intended to make it easier for consumers to compare and make informed choices about health plans.
What Do The Final Rules Outline?
According to Zane Benefits’ website, the rule included the following:
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It finalized standards for health insurance companies about essential health benefit (EHB) coverage and the determination of actuarial value (AV).
- It established a timeline for accrediting qualified health plans (QHPs) in federally facilitated marketplaces.
- It outlines an application process for accrediting entities that want to be recognized in order to certify QHPs.
- It clarifies how to determine Minimum Value for an employer-sponsored group health plan.
Essential Health Benefits Rules
According to Zane Benefits’ website, the Affordable Care Act requires that health plans offered in the individual and small group markets, both inside and outside of Health Insurance Marketplaces, offer a core package of items and services, known as "essential health benefits," which must include items and services within at least the following ten categories:
1. Ambulatory patient services
2. Emergency services
3. Hospitalization
4. Maternity and newborn care
5. Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment
6. Prescription drugs
7. Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
8. Laboratory services
9. Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
10. Pediatric services, including oral and vision care
Essential Health Benefits Benchmark Plans
According to Zane Benefits’ website, the Affordable Care Act also directs that essential health benefits be equal to benefits offered by a "typical employer plan." To meet this requirement in every state, the final rule defines EHB based on a state-specific benchmark plan.
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About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits was founded in 2006 to provide a revolutionized SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) administration platform ("ZaneHRA") for Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and defined contribution health care. The flagship software provides a 100% paperless administration experience to employers and insurance professionals that want to offer better health benefits without a traditional group health insurance plan at lower costs. For more information about ZaneHRA, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com.
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