You may have heard of the essential health benefits that are included with Obamacare-compliant health insurance plans. But what’s “essential” will differ depending on the individual, making the issue of “what are the most essential health insurance benefits?” very hard to answer. Although the answer to this question will differ for every individual, eHealth has information about what consumers value the most in terms of health benefits. Let’s begin by looking at the essential aspects of any health insurance plan.
What are Essential Health Benefits?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) introduced the 10 most important benefits for your health. These benefits cover physicians, inpatient care, prescriptions and maternity. In addition, health insurance plans for children must help pay for dental services. Although insurance companies can offer other health insurance benefits but they must provide this mandatory coverage in every policy that is sold as a qualified major medical health insurance policy. In case where you want additional hints on health, look at this site.
Short-term insurance plans aren’t required to provide all this coverage. In turn, non-qualified health insurance plans may cost less. Government officials, consumers, and insurance companies continue discuss the subject despite rising premiums for qualified health insurance plans.
Proponents of mandated health insurance coverage say they can help customers have the insurance they require; however, some wonder if everybody is required to pay more for health insurance plans that include benefits that they might not use.
Which health insurance benefits do consumers value most?
The eHealth survey asked the public to select which health benefits they thought insurance companies should provide.
A majority or large minority of survey responses did agree with at least a portion of the health insurance benefits. A majority of respondents agreed that health insurance plans should provide preventative healthcare and 80 percent believed that health insurance should also provide emergency care.
When asked about benefits they would be willing to pay more for, the majority responded that emergency and preventative health was their top preference. Although consumers are enthused and appreciate the concept of having benefits mandated but they may already be feeling as if the premiums are stretching their budgets.
Is it logical to let people pick and choose the benefits that they want? For example, it is obvious why an older man or single male may not think it fair to be able to pay more for the benefits for maternity. However younger women could also pay more for emergency medical care, a service they are less likely to utilize like a man in middle age.
Insurance companies may be able to spread premiums and risks among a wider population by having everyone pay for all benefits. There is no way to know when a person need medical assistance, therefore it’s important to ensure that everyone is covered. Still, concerns over high health care insurance premiums plague many people, and eliminating some benefits can help decrease their cost. Naturally, both sides have good arguments, and people will continue to debate it.
