Health Care Blog

Insurance Companies Now Must Cover Mental Health Benefits at Parity with Medical Benefits

Today, as part of the President and Vice President’s continuing efforts to increase access to mental health services, the Administration issued the final rule implementing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

Today’s action means that for group and individual market health plans, insurance companies must cover mental health and addiction benefits at parity with medical and surgical benefits. In January, the Department of Health and Human Services also released a letter to State health officials clarifying that Medicaid plans must also comply with parity requirements.

Parity is not just a buzzword. It has a real impact for the millions of people who are experiencing or will experience mental illness or addiction. In fact, parity works to break down two key barriers that too often prevent these individuals – our friends, our family, our neighbors – from seeking help. First, it breaks down the financial barrier by generally prohibiting health plans from placing more restrictive monetary requirements (for example, co-pays) or treatment limitations (for example, covered visits)  on mental health and substance abuse benefits than on comparable medical and surgical benefits.  Second, parity reduces the stigma associated with mental illness and addiction by reaffirming that illnesses of the brain should not be treated differently than illnesses of the body.

Investing in the Health of our Communities

Last week, I had the opportunity to travel back to my home state of Michigan, to Southwest Detroit, where I visited a local Community Health Center and participated in an Affordable Care Act enrollment event put on by State Representative Rashida Tlaib.

The event provided an opportunity for Detroiters to ask question about the benefits of the Affordable Care Act, and for those without insurance, how to get covered.

It was a well-attended event that included Detroiters from all walks of life, many of whom use Community Health Centers as their primary course of care.  State Representative Tlaib even shared with me that growing up in Detroit, she came to that very health center for care.

These truly critical hubs provide vital health services to their communities.

That’s why I’m so excited that today we are announcing new grants provided to communities under the Affordable Care Act. These grants will continue to make a big difference in helping community health centers provide access to primary care services for nearly 1.25 million new patients.

These awards will focus on underserved areas and health centers that can provide culturally competent care and primary care.