Enacted in 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded health insurance coverage to more than 20 million people by increasing benefits and lowering health insurance costs to make coverage more affordable. Also, the ACA expanded access to health insurance with the creation of a federal marketplace (sometimes referred to as an exchange and state-administered marketplaces in some states. 

Don’t allow a medical emergency to become a financial emergency. One night stay in the hospital or even a rush to the emergency room can add up into the thousands of dollars.

ACA plans (also known as Qualified Health Plans) are major medical insurance plans certified by the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace to be offered on the marketplace.  All ACA plans –

• Provide Essential Health Benefits
• Follow established limits on cost-sharing (such as deductibles, copayments and out-of-pocket maximum amounts)
• Provide coverage for people with pre-existing conditions
• Eliminate annual and lifetime dollar limits on health insurance coverage
• Provide 100% coverage for preventive care and cancer screening. 

The 10 essential health benefits include:

1. Emergency services
2. Hospitalization
3. Out-patient services
4. Maternity and newborn care
5. Mental health, behavioral health, and substance use disorder services
6. Prescription Drugs
7. Rehabilitative and habilitative services
8. Laboratory services
9. Pediatric services, including oral and vision care
10. Preventative and wellness services and chronic disease management
11. Many People qualify for a zero monthly premium plan
12. There is nothing for you to lose and everything for you to gain

ACA-compliant plans are also available off the marketplace. You can purchase ACA-compliant health insurance and other types of insurance directly from the insurance company or through a private marketplace, such as eHealth. (eHealth offers consumers access to ACA plans on the marketplace as well as health insurance products offered outside the federal and state marketplaces.) 

In addition, off marketplace health insurance offerings include non-.
ACA compliant medical plans, which do not include all of the benefits and consumer protections of ACA plans as well as insurance that is not regulated by the ACA, such as indemnity plans and short-term insurance policies.