Health Insurance
Addiction & Health Insurance
Legal Action Center – Health Insurance for Addiction & Mental Health Care: A Guide to the Federal Parity Law
On June 30, 2016, the Legal Action Center released a digital publication to assist individuals in understanding the Federal Parity Law, the patient and the provider rights. To view this document please visit: http://lac.org/health-insurance-for-addiction-mental-health-care-a-guide-to-the-federal-parity-law/.Pennsylvania health insurance exchange / marketplace
http://www.healthinsurance.org/pennsylvania-state-health-insurance-exchange/Pennsylvania Insurance Department – Mental Health Parity FAQs
For more information on the Parity Act, you may visit: Pennsylvania Insurance Department – Mental Health Parity FAQsThe Parity Act
The Parity Act, formerly known as the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act of 2008 was enacted in 2009. It is an extension of the Mental Health Parity Law of 1996. The 1996 law extended coverage by certain health insurance companies to include mental health issues along with the usual medical issues. The new Parity Act extends coverage even further to include substance use issues. The law requires that any group health plan that covers more than 50 employees and offers mental health and/or substance use disorders coverage must provide coverage with no greater financial requirements (i.e., co-pays, deductibles, annual or life-time dollar limits) or treatment limitations (i.e., number of visits) than the predominant requirements the plan applies to substantially all medical/surgical benefits. However, that the law does not require employers to cover mental health or substance use treatments if they are not already offered.