What you should know about the health market (OBAMACARE)

What is Health Insurance Market?

The Health Insurance Marketplace helps you find health coverage that fits your needs and your budget. Every health plan on the market offers the same set of essential benefits for your health, including doctor visits, preventive care, hospitalization, prescriptions and more. You can compare plans based on price, benefits, quality, and other features important to you before making a decision.

With one application, you can see if you qualify for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or for savings in a Marketplace plan of health. Most people who apply for this benefit will qualify for some type of discount.

Everyone in the United States must have minimum health coverage or pay a fee.

What Marketplace health insurance plans cover

• Outpatient services (outpatient care you receive without being admitted to a hospital)
• Emergency services
• Hospitalization (such as surgery and overnight stays)
• Pregnancy, motherhood and newborn care (both before and after birth)
• Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (this includes counseling and psychotherapy)
• Prescription drugs
• Rehabilitation and habilitation services and devices (services and devices to help people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic illnesses obtain or regain mental and physical abilities)
• Laboratory services
• Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
• Pediatric services, including oral and vision care (but adult dental and vision coverage are not essential health benefits)

Additional benefits

• Birth control coverage
• Breastfeeding coverage

• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Medical management programs (for specific needs such as weight control, back pain, and diabetes)