Advocacy Class: H.R. 6983 Mental Health Parity Act

This act, named for Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici, was introduced in 2008 and is currently tabled. However, it highlights the inequality between insurance coverage regarding mental health concerns versus other health concerns. With the passing of this act, it would help to ease the fallout from mental health stigma. Insurance plans that cover mental health treatment less than other types of treatment are essentially saying to those that they cover that issues concerning mental health  (including addiction) are their own problem and not a legitimate health problem. Without proper coverage, many people may then not seek the proper treatment because they are unable to pay the out of pocket expenses. 1 in 4 adults suffer from a mental health disorder any given year.

Here is a brief excerpt from govtrack.us:

Section 2 -
Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to require a group health plan that provides both medical and surgical benefits and mental health or substance use disorder benefits to ensure that: (1) the financial requirements, such as deductibles and copayments, applicable to such mental health or substance use disorder benefits are no more restrictive than the predominant financial requirements applied to substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by the plan; (2) there are no separate cost sharing requirements that are applicable only with respect to mental health or substance use disorder benefits; (3) the treatment limitations applicable to such mental health or substance use disorder benefits are no more restrictive than the predominant treatment limitations applied to substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by the plan; and (4) there are no separate treatment limitations that are applicable only with respect to mental health or substance use disorder benefits.

 Check out Mental Health America's Action page and learn more!

Parity law can be confusing, but many organizations have broken it down and formed coalitions in support of appealing to denial of insurance claims for mental health services. Toolkits are available, including sample appeal letters. You deserve the best treatment and care possible!