An Act requiring mental health parity for disability policies

This bill requires disability insurance policies issued or renewed in Massachusetts to treat mental health conditions the same as physical conditions when determining benefits. Specifically, it prohibits insurers from applying stricter limits or exclusions to claims involving behavioral health disorders than those applied to claims involving physical disorders. The law covers both individual and group short-term and long-term disability plans that provide income replacement. Additionally, the bill allows for medical exams and other procedures to verify a disability, as long as these steps are no more frequent or burdensome than those required for physical injuries.