States Moving Ahead On Defining 'Essential' Health Insurance Benefits Under Federal Law

California and Washington state will require coverage of acupuncture. Arkansas wants prevention counseling for women at high risk of breast cancer but not coverage of expensive infertility treatment. Oregon opted against covering bariatric surgery for obesity but insurers will have to cover cochlear implants for hearing.

These are some of the decisions states have made as they determine what minimum insurance benefits millions of their residents will be entitled to in 2014 under the federal health law. The decisions — which affect people who will buy individual and small group policies -- are being closely watched because they’ll determine how comprehensive the plans are and affect how much they cost.

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Source: Kaiser Health News