SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1942        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 703

 

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

 

Diana DiZoglio

First Essex

2/22/2021

Michael J. Barrett

Third Middlesex

2/24/2021


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1942        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 703

By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 703) of Joan B. Lovely, Diana DiZoglio and Michael J. Barrett for legislation to require mental health parity for disability policies.  Financial Services.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 615 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 a disability exists or continues to exist; provided said examinations, procedures or protocols are comparable and no more frequent or onerous than those required for disabilities caused by physical disorders.