If you purchase a plan on the health insurance exchange, you should review the list of essential health benefits that it covers. While these will vary somewhat depending on the state, federal law requires essential health benefits to include emergency care, hospital stays, visits to doctor’s offices, prescription drugs, lab costs, maternity care, services for newborns and children, rehabilitative therapy and devices, services for chronic diseases, and services for people dealing with mental health conditions or substance abuse. If you do not purchase a plan on the health insurance exchange, however, it does not need to provide these benefits.