DEFINING DELAWARE'S ESSENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS

REMINDER: Public Meeting on July 17th, 6-8pm, Delaware Technical and Community College,Terry Campus, Dover

Open Comment Period: 6/18/12 - 8/2/12

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires that every health insurance plan offered to an individual or small business must cover a minimum level of benefits in each of the ten broad categories of services listed below. This minimum coverage standard is referred to as "essential health benefits" (EHB). Health insurance plans may cover additional services at their own discretion.

In order to define Delaware's EHB benchmark plan the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and the Delaware Health Care Commission (DHCC) have prepared detailed materials for the public to review, as well as a process for submitting feedback to the State concerning Delaware's essential health benefits. The detailed materials include a Stakeholder Packet, a Benefits Grid, a Benchmark Plan Comparison, and an Evaluative Tool for Chronic Disease Patients.

These documents can be found on the Delaware Health Care Commission website dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dhcc under What's New.

The Essential Health Benefits open comment period ends 8/2/12. Comments may be submitted by email to HBE_Delaware@delaware.gov or by mail to: Delaware Health Care Commission
Margaret O'Neill Building, Third Floor
410 Federal Street - Suite 7
Dover, DE 19901
Telephone: (302) 739-2730
FAX: (302) 739-6927

Details on date, time and location of the final EHB public forum are given below. All Delawareans are invited to attend this forum, review the essential health benefits material, and submit comments.

Forum: July 17, 2012 from 6-8pm
Delaware Technical and Community College (DelTech)
Terry Campus
100 Campus Drive
Dover, DE 19904
Corporate Training Center
Rooms 400 A&B

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.