HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 292        FILED ON: 1/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1038

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Ruth B. Balser

_________________

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:

Date Added:

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

1/19/2021

Adam J. Scanlon

14th Bristol

1/21/2021

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

2/18/2021

David Paul Linsky

5th Middlesex

2/18/2021

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

2/18/2021

Brian W. Murray

10th Worcester

2/19/2021

Tram T. Nguyen

18th Essex

2/22/2021

Diana DiZoglio

First Essex

2/22/2021

Christine P. Barber

34th Middlesex

2/23/2021

Thomas M. Stanley

9th Middlesex

2/24/2021

Michael J. Barrett

Third Middlesex

2/24/2021

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk

2/24/2021

James J. O'Day

14th Worcester

2/25/2021

Christopher Hendricks

11th Bristol

2/26/2021

Tami L. Gouveia

14th Middlesex

2/26/2021

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

2/26/2021

Erika Uyterhoeven

27th Middlesex

2/26/2021

Danillo A. Sena

37th Middlesex

3/8/2021

Natalie M. Higgins

4th Worcester

9/8/2021


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 292        FILED ON: 1/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1038

By Ms. Balser of Newton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1038) of Ruth B. Balser and others for legislation to prohibit benefit limits and exclusions for behavioral health disorders on certain disability insurance policies.  Financial Services.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 908 OF 2019-2020.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

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.