The bill would require many disability benefit plans to treat disabilities caused by mental health conditions or substance use disorders no more restrictively than disabilities caused by physical health conditions. It would also count physical conditions caused by a mental health condition or substance use disorder as part of that disability. The requirements would cover plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, certain government employee plans, and insurance issuers that provide disability benefits. The bill allows enforcement by the Labor Department and states, and lets affected individuals seek relief in court. Most changes would apply to plan years beginning more than 18 months after enactment, with a special delay for some plans under collective bargaining agreements.
If you receive disability benefits through a covered plan or insurer, the bill would limit how much more restrictive the plan's rules can be for disabilities related to mental health or substance use conditions. The bill excludes plans established or maintained for federal government employees from its definition of covered government employee plans.
The bill authorizes $10 million for each fiscal year in the five-year period beginning on enactment. It also requires a Labor Department study of the cost to plan sponsors of providing these benefits. The bill does not state what the requirements would cost individual workers or plans.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.