45 C.F.R. § 155.170

Additional required benefits

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(a) Additional required benefits. (1) A State may require a QHP to offer benefits in addition to the essential health benefits. For plan years beginning before January 1, 2028, a benefit required by State action taking place on or before December 31, 2011, a benefit required by State action for purposes of compliance with Federal requirements, or a benefit covered in the State's EHB-benchmark plan is considered an EHB. A benefit required by State action taking place on or after January 1, 2012, other than for purposes of compliance with Federal requirements, that is not a benefit covered in the State's EHB-benchmark plan is considered in addition to the essential health benefits.

(2) For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2028, a State may require a QHP to cover benefits in addition to the essential health benefits, which are any State-required benefits that are:

(i) Required by a State action taking place after December 31, 2011;

(ii) Applicable to the small group and/or individual markets;

(iii) Specific to required care, treatment, or services; and

(iv) Not required by State action for purposes of compliance with Federal requirements.

(3) A State must make payments in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section to defray the cost of any State-required benefits in addition to the EHB.

(4) The State will identify which State-required benefits are in addition to the EHB.

(b) Payments. The State must make payments to defray the cost of additional required benefits specified in paragraph (a) of this section to one of the following:

(1) To an enrollee, as defined in § 155.20 of this subchapter; or

(2) Directly to the QHP issuer on behalf of the individual described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

(c) Cost of additional required benefits. (1) Each QHP issuer in the State shall quantify cost attributable to each additional required benefit specified in paragraph (a) of this section.

(2) A QHP issuer's calculation shall be:

(i) Based on an analysis performed in accordance with generally accepted actuarial principles and methodologies;

(ii) Conducted by a member of the American Academy of Actuaries; and

(iii) Reported to the State.

[78 FR 12865, Feb. 25, 2013, as amended at 81 FR 12337, Mar. 8, 2016; 89 FR 26419, Apr. 15, 2024; 91 FR 29864, May 20, 2026]