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Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§300gg–6 Comprehensive health insurance coverage

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XXV— - REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE › Part Part A— - Individual and Group Market Reforms › Subpart Subpart I— - General Reform › § 300gg–6

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Insurance companies that sell individual or small-group plans must include the required essential health benefits. Employer group health plans must make sure any yearly cost-sharing (what people pay out of pocket each year, like deductibles and copays) does not go over the limits set by law. If an insurer offers a certain level of coverage, it must also offer that same level as a plan only for people who are under 21 at the start of the plan year. These rules do not apply to certain plans that are listed elsewhere in the law.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §300gg–6

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A health insurance issuer that offers health insurance coverage in the individual or small group market shall ensure that such coverage includes the essential health benefits package required under section 18022(a) of this title.
(b)A group health plan shall ensure that any annual cost-sharing imposed under the plan does not exceed the limitations provided for under paragraph (1) of section 18022(c) 11 See References in Text note below. of this title.
(c)If a health insurance issuer offers health insurance coverage in any level of coverage specified under section 18022(d) of this title, the issuer shall also offer such coverage in that level as a plan in which the only enrollees are individuals who, as of the beginning of a plan year, have not attained the age of 21.
(d)This section shall not apply to a plan described in section 18031(d)(2)(B)(ii) 1 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 18022(c) of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “section 1302(c)”, and was translated as meaning section 1302(c) of Pub. L. 111–148, par. (1) of which relates to annual limitation on cost-sharing, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. section 18031(d)(2)(B)(ii) of this title, referred to in subsec. (d), was in the original “section 1302(d)(2)(B)(ii)(I)”, and was translated as meaning section 1311(d)(2)(B)(ii) of Pub. L. 111–148, which relates to offering of stand-alone dental benefits, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 300gg–6, act
July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVII, § 2706, as added Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(f) [title IX, § 903(a)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–337, 2681–438, which related to required coverage for reconstructive surgery following mastectomies, was renumbered section 2727 of act
July 1, 1944, and transferred to section 300gg–27 of this title. A prior section 2707 of act
July 1, 1944, was renumbered section 2728 and is classified to section 300gg–28 of this title. Another prior section 2707 of act
July 1, 1944, was successively renumbered by subsequent acts and transferred, see section 238f of this title.

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 113–93 substituted “paragraph (1)” for “paragraphs (1) and (2)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2014 Amendment Pub. L. 113–93, title II, § 213(c), Apr. 1, 2014, 128 Stat. 1047, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this Act [probably means this section, amending this section and section 18022 of this title] shall be effective as if included in the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111–148).”

Effective Date

Section effective for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2014, see section 1255 of Pub. L. 111–148, set out as a note under section 300gg of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 300gg–6

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73