Minimum essential coverage is health insurance that meets the Affordable Care Act requirements. Employers have a requirement to offer at least Minimum Essential Coverage to any benefit-eligible employee. Non-compliance can result in a penalty of $214.17 PER eligible employee per month without coverage.

Take a look at our MEC calculator to discover how much you can save by investing in MEC for your employees.

At SBMA, we aim to offer affordable, flexible, and compliant coverage for all employers.

What Does Basic MEC Cover?

Our Basic MEC plans cover 100% of preventive services and wellness visits to the doctor. In addition, all members have access to 24/7/365 telehealth services and discounts on generic and brand prescriptions. 

These plans are the most affordable option under Minimum Essential Coverage. 

What Does Ultimate MEC Cover?

Ultimate MEC covers the preventative services and wellness visits mentioned above, as well as primary care and specialist visits with a $15 copay. As well as urgent care, labs, and X-rays with a $50 copay. 

24/7/365 telehealth services are included under this plan, along with access to behavioral health telehealth services

Prescriptions under the Ultimate MEC plan are covered based on your coverage tier.

*$50 fee max 3 per year

Preventative Services Covered Under MEC

Both plans cover preventative services and wellness visits. The services covered depend on age and gender. Here’s a look at the coverage offered under preventative services:

Covered Preventative Services for Adults

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm one-time screening for men of specified ages who have ever smoked
• Alcohol misuse screening and counseling
• Aspirin used to prevent cardiovascular disease in men and women of certain ages
• Blood pressure screening for all adults
• Cholesterol screening for adults of certain ages or at higher risk
• Colorectal cancer screening for adults over 50
• Depression screening for adults
• Diabetes (Type 2) screening for adults with high blood pressure
• Diet counseling for adults at higher risk for chronic disease
• Falls prevention (with exercise or physical therapy and vitamin D use) for adults 65 years and over
• Hepatitis B screening for people at higher risk
• Hepatitis C screening for adults at increased risk, and one time for everyone born 1945 –1965
• HIV screening for everyone ages 15 to 65, and other ages at increased risk
• Immunization vaccines for adults — doses, recommended ages, and recommended populations vary: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Herpes Zoster, Human Papillomavirus, Influenza (flu shot), Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningococcal, Pneumococcal, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis and Varicella
• Lung cancer screening for adults 55 – 80 at high risk for lung cancer because they’re heavy smokers or have quit in the past 15 years
• Obesity screening and counseling for all adults
• Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) prevention counseling for adults at higher risk
• Statin preventive medication for adults 40 to 75 years at higher risk
• Syphilis screening for all adults at higher risk
• Tobacco use screening for all adults and cessation interventions for tobacco users
• Tuberculosis screening for certain adults with symptoms at higher risk

Covered Preventative Services for Women

• Anemia screening on a routine basis for pregnant women
• Breast Cancer Genetic Test Counseling (BRCA) for women at higher risk for breast cancer (counseling only; not testing)
• Breast cancer mammography screenings every 1 to 2 years for women over 40
• Breast cancer chemoprevention counseling for women at higher risk
• Breastfeeding comprehensive support and counseling from trained providers, and access to breastfeeding supplies, for pregnant and nursing women
• Cervical cancer screening
• Chlamydia Infection screening for younger women and other women at higher risk
• Contraception: Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling, as prescribed by a health care provider for women with reproductive capacity (not including abortifacient drugs). This does not apply to health plans sponsored by certain exempt “religious employers.”
• Diabetes screening for women with a history of gestational diabetes who aren’t currently pregnant and who haven’t been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before
• Domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling for all women
• Folic acid supplements for women who may become pregnant
• Gestational diabetes screening for women 24 to 28 weeks pregnant and those at high risk of developing gestational diabetes
• Gonorrhea screening for all women at higher risk
• Hepatitis B screening for pregnant women at their first prenatal visit
• HIV screening and counseling for sexually active women
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA Test every 5 years for women with normal cytology results who are 30 or older
• Osteoporosis screening for women over age 60 depending on risk factors
• Preeclampsia prevention and screening for pregnant women and follow-up testing for women at higher risk
• Rh Incompatibility screening for all pregnant women and follow-up testing for women at higher risk
• Sexually transmitted infections counseling for sexually active women
• Syphilis screening for all pregnant women or other women at increased risk
• Tobacco use screening and interventions for all women, and expanded counseling for pregnant tobacco users
• Urinary tract or other infection screening, including urinary incontinence
• Well-woman visits to get recommended services for women under 65

Covered Preventative Services for Children

• Alcohol and drug use assessments for adolescents
• Autism screening for children at 18 and 24 months
• Behavioral assessments for children at the following ages: 0 to 11 months, 1 to 4 years, 5 to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, 15 to 17 years.
• Bilirubin concentration screening for newborns
• Blood pressure screening for children at the following ages: 0 to 11 months, 1 to 4 years, 5 to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, 15 to 17 years
• Blood screening for newborns
• Cervical dysplasia screening for sexually active females
• Depression screening for adolescents
• Developmental screening for children under age 3
• Dyslipidemia screening for children at higher risk of lipid disorders at the following ages: 1 to 4 years, 5 to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, 15 to 17 years.
• Fluoride chemoprevention supplements for children without fluoride in their water source
• Fluoride varnish for all infants and children as soon as teeth are present
• Gonorrhea preventive medication for the eyes of all newborns
• Hearing screening for all newborns, and for children once between 11 and 14 years, once between 15 and 17 years, and once between 18 and 21 years
• Height, weight, and Body Mass Index measurements for children at the following ages: 0 to 11 months, 1 to 4 years, 5 to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, 15 to 17 years.
• Hematocrit or hemoglobin screening for all children
• Hemoglobinopathies or sickle cell screening for newborns
• Hepatitis B screening for adolescents ages 11 to 17 years at high risk
• HIV screening for adolescents at higher risk
• Hypothyroidism screening for newborns
• Immunization vaccines for children from birth to age 18 — doses, recommended ages and recommended populations vary: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus influenza type B, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus, Inactivated Poliovirus, Influenza (Flu Shot), Measles, Meningococcal, Pneumococcal, Rotavirus and Varicella
• Iron supplements for children ages 6 to 12 months at risk for anemia
• Lead screening for children at risk of exposure
• Maternal depression screening for mothers of infants at 1, 2, 4, and 6-month visits
• Medical history for all children throughout development at the following ages: 0 to 11 months, 1 to 4 years, 5 to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, 15 to 17 years.
• Obesity screening and counseling
• Oral Health risk assessment for young children Ages: 0 to 11 months, 1 to 4 years, 5 to 10 years.
• Phenylketonuria (PKU) screening for this genetic disorder in newborns
• Sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention counseling and screening for adolescents at higher risk
• Tuberculin testing for children at higher risk of tuberculosis at the following ages: 0 to 11 months, 1 to 4 years, 5 to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, 15 to 17 years.
• Vision screening for all children.

Read on for more information on MEC insurance plans and what they cover.