Do Marketplace plans cover mental health and substance use?
Yes — ACA-qualified Marketplace plans must cover mental health and substance-use disorder services as essential health benefits, and federal parity rules require these benefits to be no more restrictive than comparable medical and surgical benefits, per HealthCare.gov (2026).
More on this topic: affordable care act
What the government has said, on the record
Here's how a federal official described it, on the record:
“Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (this includes counseling and psychotherapy).”
— Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (HealthCare.gov), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services), HealthCare.gov, What Marketplace health insurance plans cover (essential health benefits) (source)
Editor's note: From official HealthCare.gov (CMS) consumer guidance. Confirm current details at HealthCare.gov.
Who said this
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (HealthCare.gov) · Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
Also asked as
- Does Obamacare cover therapy?
- ACA mental health parity
Sources
Last verified: 2026-07-19