Which of the following qualifies as minimum essential coverage (MEC) under the ACA's individual responsibility framework?
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
Minimum essential coverage (MEC) includes employer-sponsored group health plans, individual health plans that meet ACA requirements, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, TRICARE, and most other government-sponsored coverage. MEC is the benchmark coverage that satisfied the ACA's individual responsibility requirement. An employer-sponsored group health plan is squarely within the definition of MEC, whereas excepted benefits such as hospital indemnity and accident-only policies do not qualify, and a discount plan is not insurance at all. Option A is therefore the only item that counts as MEC.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) Hospital indemnity policies are classified as excepted benefits under the ACA and do not qualify as minimum essential coverage. Excepted benefits are specifically carved out of the MEC definition by statute.
- C) Limited-benefit accident-only policies are also excepted benefits and do not satisfy the MEC standard under the ACA. Accident-only coverage falls into the excepted-benefits carve-out and never satisfies MEC.
- D) A discount medical plan is not insurance — it merely negotiates provider discounts — so it cannot be minimum essential coverage. Without an insurance contract there is no coverage at all, so MEC cannot be met.
Memory hook
MEC = the real coverage club: employer plans, ACA plans, Medicare, Medicaid. Fixed-benefit extras don't get in.