How Will The Mental Health Parity Act Affect My Benefits?
Under MHPA, group health plans, insurance companies and HMOs offering mental health benefits will no longer be allowed to set annual or lifetime dollar limits on mental health benefits that are lower than any such dollar limits for medical and surgical benefits. A plan that does not impose an annual or lifetime dollar limit on medical and surgical benefits may not impose such a dollar limit on mental health benefits offered under the plan. MHPA’s provisions, however, do not apply to benefits for substance abuse or chemical dependency. Will MHPA Require All Health Plans To Provide Mental Health Benefits? No. Health plans are not required to include mental health in their benefits package. The requirements under MHPA apply only to plans offering mental health benefits. May A Plan Impose Other Restrictions on Mental Health Benefits? Yes. Plans will still be able to set the terms and conditions (such as cost-sharing and limits on the number of visits or days of coverage) for the amount, du