In health care plans under the Affordable Care Act, how many essential benefit categories are there?

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), there are ten essential health benefit categories that health care plans must cover. These categories ensure that a wide range of services are provided to consumers, promoting comprehensive health care and minimizing gaps in coverage. The essential benefits include items such as emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance use disorder services, prescription drugs, rehabilitation services, lab services, preventive services, pediatric services, and outpatient care. By mandating these ten categories, the ACA aims to improve health outcomes and make health care more accessible to all individuals. Understanding these essential benefit categories is vital for consumers when evaluating their health insurance options, as they guarantee that critical health services are covered.