Bill > S780

This bill requires mental health parity in disability insurance policies issued or renewed in Massachusetts, ensuring that behavioral health disorders are treated equally to physical disorders in terms of benefit limitations and exclusions. Specifically, the bill prohibits disability insurance providers from imposing more restrictive benefit limitations or exclusions on claims related to mental health conditions compared to claims related to physical medical conditions for both individual and group disability insurance policies that provide income replacement benefits. The legislation also clarifies that insurance companies can still conduct periodic medical examinations to verify the existence or continuation of a disability, but these examinations must be comparable and no more frequent or invasive than those used for physical disorders. By mandating this equal treatment, the bill aims to prevent discrimination against individuals with mental health conditions and ensure they receive the same level of financial support during disability as those with physical medical conditions.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S780