Language desk / reviewed term
What does Lifetime Maximum mean?
A lifetime dollar cap on plan payment. ACA rules prohibit these caps for essential health benefits in covered plans.
Illustration — not a plan price
Check whether a benefit is an essential health benefit and whether the plan is subject to the ACA prohibition.
The actual plan document controls. Verify its definitions, network, exclusions, dates, and amounts before relying on the illustration.
Definitions here are never for sale — no plan is recommended on a comprehension page.
Source: HealthCare.gov — Glossary · Verified 2026-08-11 · Reviewed by the MedicalRecords.com editorial team · Last reviewed August 11, 2026