Know Your Rights: Fair Insurance Coverage for Mental Health

Federal
law is clear that health insurance companies cannot discriminate against people
seeking care for mental illness or addiction. But how do you know if your insurance
company is not complying with the law? What can you do if you suspect a
violation?

The
American Psychiatric Association (APA) created a tool to help answer these
questions. The poster titled, “Fair Insurance Coverage: It’s the Law”
(Spanish-language version), clearly and
simply explains the law and the steps to take if you suspect a violation.

The
poster is intended to help enforce federal law and end discrimination.  Print it out and share the link (www.psychiatry.org/parity).

By
understanding your rights and taking action you can help ensure fair coverage
for yourself and your family, and you can help others by holding insurance
companies accountable.

What Federal Law Requires

The Mental Health
Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires any group health plan that covers more
than 50 employees and offers mental health and/or substance use disorders
coverage to provide that coverage with no greater financial requirements (such
as co-pays, deductibles, annual or life-time dollar limits) or treatment
limitations than the requirements the plan applies to medical / surgical
benefits. 

Also,
under the Affordable Care Act, new individual and small group plans in and
outside of the mandated health
insurance exchanges are required to offer mental and substance use
disorder coverage similar to medical/surgical benefits.

In addition to federal law, 49 states
and D.C. currently have laws relating to insurance coverage for mental health
and substance use.  More information,
including a summary table of state laws, is available from the National Conference of State Legislators.

By Deborah Cohen, senior writer, American Psychiatric Association