Bill > H4131

This bill requires the commissioner of insurance to investigate and study mental health parity for disability policies, meaning that insurance plans should cover mental health conditions and physical health conditions equally. The study will examine the financial impact on Massachusetts policyholders if disability insurance contracts are prohibited from imposing stricter benefit limitations or exclusions for behavioral health disorders compared to physical disorders, and will also look into available insurance products that do not have these unequal limitations and their associated costs. Additionally, the commissioner will assess the practicality of informing policyholders about benefit limitations when they purchase disability policies, and must submit a report with findings, conclusions, and legislative recommendations to the joint committee on financial services by June 30, 2015.