What is Minimum Essential Coverage?

Minimum essential coverage is the type of coverage that meets the Affordable Care Act's requirement to have health insurance.

This includes:

• Employer-sponsored plans, including COBRA and retiree coverage
• Individual health coverage
• Marketplace insurance from healthcare.gov or a state exchange
• Medicare Parts A or C
• Medicaid
• CHIP, TRICARE, veterans health care programs, and Peace Corps Volunteer plans.

Other plans may also qualify. Your health coverage provider should be able to let you know if your plan qualifies.

Health plans that don't meet minimum essential coverage don't qualify as coverage. Examples include:

• Coverage only for vision care or dental care
• Workers' compensation
• Coverage only for a specific disease or condition
• Plans that offer only discounts on medical services