What constitutes an Essential Health Benefit (EHB)?

The definition of Essential Health Benefits (EHB) under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a set of health service categories that health insurance plans must offer in order to meet minimum standards. These categories are designed to ensure that all individuals have access to a wide range of essential health care services, which promotes the overall health and well-being of the population.

EHB encompasses ten specific categories that include services such as emergency services, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance use disorder services, and prescription drugs, among others. By requiring these benefits, the ACA aims to provide comprehensive coverage that helps to protect individuals from high out-of-pocket costs and ensures equitable access to necessary medical care.

The other options do not accurately represent what EHB consists of. For instance, a comprehensive retirement plan is unrelated to health services, as it pertains to retirement savings and income. Optional features in health insurance plans do not define EHB since these are mandatory components required by law. Similarly, while there are benefits targeted to low-income individuals, EHB is not limited to that demographic and is designed to apply broadly across all health insurance policies in the individual and small group markets. Thus, the correct answer distinctly captures the essence of what EHB represents in health care policy