Federal law requires that the majority of health care insurance policies contain mental health benefits that are equal to the level of benefits provided for physical health conditions. This is known as mental health parity.
Mental health parity was first mandated by the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and again by the Affordable Care Act. What this means is that insurers cannot place greater restrictions on the availability of mental health services than they do on physical health services. However, what this looks like in practice varies by health insurance provider and the specific plan you are covered under.
Each policy will establish the various deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket costs you may be responsible for when using covered services. Some plans require a referral from your primary care physician before receiving residential mental health treatment, and some do not. Understanding your mental health benefits prior to starting treatment makes the process significantly smoother, which is precisely why our team is here to help.