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I have bipolar disorder. What are my insurance rights?
It depends.
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 puts mental health on equal footing — called parity — with medical health. If a group health insurance plan offers mental health benefits, there cannot be any financial restrictions (deductibles, co-payments, etc.) or treatment limitations (hospitalization, psychologist/psychiatrist visits, etc.) that are different from the plan's limits on medical treatment.
Many states also have their own mental health coverage laws, so it's best to check with your state's department of insurance to see what your rights are and what coverage is available to you.
It's always wise to read your actual policy, not just your health plan summary. The policy will outline limits, exclusions and out-of-pocket expenses.
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