The Secretary of Health and Human Services will define the benefits health plans have to cover, which includes a number of service categories specified in the health reform law: ambulatory services, emergency care, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, prescription drugs, mental health and substance abuse services, rehabilitative services and devices, labs, chronic disease management, and oral and vision care for children. The scope of benefits will be the same as that provided under a typical employer health plan.

The minimum benefit requirement applies to new plans sold to small businesses (those with up to 100 workers) and individuals beginning in 2014, but not to so-called "grandfathered" coverage that people already have or to coverage provided by larger employers.

Insurance