What is a key requirement for health policies purchased through the federal marketplace?

The key requirement for health policies purchased through the federal marketplace is that they must provide essential health benefits without imposing annual and lifetime limits on coverage. This regulation is part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was designed to enhance consumer protections and ensure that all individuals have access to a comprehensive set of health services.

Essential health benefits include a wide range of medical services, such as emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, mental health services, prescription drugs, rehabilitative services, and preventive care, among others. By eliminating annual and lifetime limits, the ACA ensures that no individual will face sudden and catastrophic costs for their health care after reaching a set cap on benefits provided by their insurance plan. This requirement is critical for ensuring ongoing access to necessary medical care and promoting financial stability for policyholders.

The other options, while they pertain to important aspects of health insurance, do not represent the specific key requirement for policies purchased through the federal marketplace. For instance, while coverage for pre-existing conditions is also a requirement under the ACA, the broader mandate regarding essential benefits without limits is more fundamental to the nature of the policies sold in the marketplace.