Essential Health Benefits (EHB) must include items and services within the following 10 categories:

• Ambulatory Patient Services
• Hospitalization
• Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Services, Including Behavioral Health Treatment
• Rehabilitative & Habilitative Services & Devices
• Laboratory Services
• Emergency Services
• Maternity & Newborn Care
• Prescription Drugs
• Preventative Wellness Services & Chronic Disease Management
• Pediatric Services (pediatric oral care may be included or offered as part of a stand-alone dental plan)

Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act runs from Nov. 1st through December 15th annually. Medicare Annual Election Period runs from October 15th through December 7th annually.

Usually your coverage is effective the first day of the month following enrollment. However, there are plans available with next-day effective dates.

To be eligible to enroll in health coverage through the Marketplace, you:

• Must live in the United States.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national (or be lawfully present). Learn about eligible immigration statuses.
• Can’t be incarcerated.

If you have Medicare coverage, you’re not eligible to use the Marketplace to buy a health or dental plan. Learn more about Medicare and the Marketplace.

Outside Open Enrollment, you have several options to get health insurance such as:

• The Special Enrollment Period: You can qualify if you lose job-based coverage, have a baby, get married, or have certain other life changes.
• Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): You can apply any time and can enroll immediately if you’re eligible.
• Short-term Major Medical Health Insurance Plans with coverage duration periods of 30 days to 3 years.