Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act: Who Qualifies and What You Get
Learn how this law ensures your health insurance covers mental health and addiction services at the same level as your medical and surgical benefits.
This law requires health insurance companies to provide mental health and addiction services with the same level of coverage as they provide for medical and surgical care.
Who it's for
This protection applies to anyone who has a health insurance plan.
What you get
Your insurer cannot treat mental health or addiction services differently than they treat physical medical issues. This means the rules for your coverage, such as how much the insurer pays versus how much you pay, must be balanced and equal to the coverage provided for medical and surgical benefits.
What it costs you
There is no specific cost to access these legal protections, but you will still be responsible for your standard plan costs. This includes your usual co-pays and deductibles as outlined in your specific insurance policy.
The catch to know
While the law ensures your coverage levels are fair, it does not guarantee easy access to care. Even with these protections in place, finding a therapist who is in your insurance network can still be a difficult and time-consuming process.
How to apply
- Review your current health insurance policy documents to understand your mental health benefits.
- Check your insurer's provider directory to find mental health professionals in your network.
- Contact your insurance provider if you believe your mental health coverage is being treated differently than your medical coverage.
- Visit the official portal for more information: https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/about/oversight/mental-health-parity