SENATE DOCKET, NO. 353        FILED ON: 1/11/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 615

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Joan B. Lovely

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act requiring mental health parity for disability policies.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Joan B. Lovely

Second Essex

 

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

1/16/2019

Diana DiZoglio

First Essex

1/29/2019

Thomas M. Stanley

9th Middlesex

1/30/2019

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

1/31/2019

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

1/31/2019

Patricia D. Jehlen

Second Middlesex

1/31/2019

John F. Keenan

Norfolk and Plymouth

1/31/2019

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

2/1/2019

Brendan P. Crighton

Third Essex

2/4/2019

Lori A. Ehrlich

8th Essex

2/4/2019

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

2/11/2019


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 353        FILED ON: 1/11/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 615

By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 615) of Joan B.  Lovely, Ruth B. Balser, Diana DiZoglio, Thomas M. Stanley and other members of the General Court for legislation to require mental health parity for disability policies.  Financial Services.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 555 OF 2017-2018.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act requiring mental health parity for disability policies.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 108 of chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following:-

"13. No individual policy of short-term or long-term disability insurance providing income replacement benefits that is issued or renewed in the Commonwealth shall impose benefit limitations or exclusions upon claimants affected by behavioral health disorders, where such limitations or exclusions are not imposed equally upon claimants affected by physical disorders."

SECTION 2. Section 110 of chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-

"(Q) No certificate of coverage under a group policy of short-term or long-term disability insurance providing income replacement benefits that is issued or renewed in the Commonwealth shall impose benefit limitations or exclusions upon claimants affected by behavioral health disorders, where such limitations or exclusions are not imposed equally upon claimants affected by physical disorders."

SECTION 3. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit periodic medical exams or other procedures reasonably calculated to determine whether or not a disability exists, or continues to exist; provided said examinations, procedures or protocols are comparable and no more frequent or onerous that those required for disabilities caused by physical disorders.