A new law quietly passed as part of the recent economic bailout package that requires insurance coverage to be equal for mental and physical illnesses. Health plans commonly provide less, or different, coverage for mental illness and addiction disorders than for physical illnesses. In particular, health plans have regularly set higher co-payments for treatment of mental illnesses and have put greater restrictions on treatment. Mental health advocates have long criticized the difference in coverage, claiming that it is based on stigma and lack of understanding of mental illnesses. Many health plans will now be required to adjust their coverage policies to comply with the new law. A recent article on the legislation appears here.
