Essential Health Benefits in Healthcare Reform

Welcome Back students, before the long memorial day weekend, I know you all are wondering what the next healthcare reform lesson will be.  I will give a bit of enlightenment about the Essential Health Benefits that are tied into Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 
A big part of the "Patient Protection" portion of the new law is centered around the types of health issues that insurance companies must cover for their clients. The following benefits have been classified as "Essential Health Benefits" EHB and must be included in all insurance policies.  

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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, and
10. Pediatric services, including oral and vision care

 The benefits are critical to some, but not to others.  The big issue surrounding  EHB's is that they raise the premiums for insurance for everyone, but not everyone needs the benefits.  For example, a single male does not need maternity, however his insurance will cover it, and since the insurance is required to cover it, the premiums reflect that.

This is one example of how the reach of the law is so long, but has not necessarily been reconciled with reality.  This is also an example of an area that will most likely be refined as the law gets implemented.