In October of 2009, a new federal mental health parity law went into effect. The new law requires parity between benefits for mental health and substance use disorders and benefits for medical and surgical treatments under certain health plans. Large employers are subject to the new federal law but smaller employers are not, however, they are subject to requirements under state law. The Ohio Department of Insurance has created this on-line toolkit in order to provide consumers and stakeholders information about benefits for mental health and substance use disorders in their health benefit plans.
For questions regarding specific insurance coverage, insureds/enrollees should contact their respective insurance companies or HICs. Employees covered under self-funded plans should contact their employers or plan administrators. For questions regarding general health insurance and for specific questions regarding coverage under the federal and state law, Ohio residents may contact the Consumer Services Division of the Ohio Department of Insurance at 1-800-686-1526. Companies with questions regarding coverage under the law may contact the Life and Health Division of the Ohio Department of Insurance at (614) 644-2644.