Which statement describes the cost-sharing requirements for preventive services?

Preventive services are designed to detect health issues early on or prevent them altogether. Under the Affordable Care Act, these services are mandated to be covered without any cost-sharing requirements for individuals enrolled in qualifying health plans. This means that patients can access preventive care such as screenings, vaccinations, and certain check-ups without having to pay a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible, making it financially accessible and incentivizing individuals to make use of these essential services.

The other statements do not align with the regulations governing preventive services. The first statement suggests that patients must pay a fee to access these services, which contradicts the law mandating no cost-sharing. The third statement implies that cost-sharing is only applicable if a deductible is in place, which does not apply to preventive services due to their unique coverage requirements. Lastly, the statement suggesting that preventive services are optional is inconsistent with the ACA mandates that require these services to be included as essential health benefits in most plans, ensuring their availability.