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MA H786

MA H786
Requiring mental health parity for disability policies


summary

Introduced
01/20/2015
In Committee
01/20/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
07/31/2016

Introduced Session

189th General Court

Bill Summary

For legislation to prohibit benefit limits and exclusions for behavioral health disorders on certain disability insurance policies. Financial Services.

AI Summary

This bill requires that disability insurance policies, both individual and group, that provide income replacement benefits and are issued or renewed in the Commonwealth must treat mental health conditions, referred to as "behavioral health disorders," the same as physical health conditions. Specifically, these policies cannot impose stricter limits or exclusions on benefits for behavioral health disorders than they do for physical disorders, ensuring "mental health parity" in disability coverage. The bill clarifies that this does not prevent insurers from requiring reasonable medical exams to verify a disability, as long as these requirements are comparable to those for physical disabilities.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (46)

Ruth Balser (D)* Christine Barber (D),  Mike Barrett (D),  Michael Day (D),  Marjorie Decker (D),  Sal DiDomenico (D),  Diana Dizoglio (D),  Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D),  Gloria Fox (D),  Sean Garballey (D),  Denise Garlick (D),  Colleen Garry (D),  Carmine Gentile (D),  Anne Gobi (D),  Carlos González (D),  Ken Gordon (D),  Jonathan Hecht (D),  Paul Heroux (D),  Pat Jehlen (D),  Brian Joyce (D),  Jay Kaufman (D),  Mary Keefe (D),  Kay Khan (D),  Peter Kocot (D),  Barbara L'Italien (D),  John Lawn (D),  Jason Lewis (D),  Jay Livingstone (D),  Joan Lovely (D),  Elizabeth Malia (D),  Thomas McGee (D),  Joe McKenna (R),  Paul McMurtry (D),  Matt Muratore (R),  Jim O'Day (D),  Denise Provost (D),  Angelo Puppolo (D),  Dave Rogers (D),  Tom Sannicandro (D),  Angelo Scaccia (D),  Frank Smizik (D),  Ellen Story (D),  Bruce Tarr (R),  Walter Timilty (D),  José Tosado (D),  Steve Ultrino (D), 

Last Action

Accompanied a study order, see H4111 (on 03/28/2016)

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