Health Leaders Introduce Bill to Improve Disability Insurance for Workers Impacted by Mental Health or Substance Use Disorders
WASHINGTON – Today, Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) and Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) introduced the Workers’ Disability Benefits Parity Act, a bill establishing behavioral health parity for disability insurance. This legislation ensures that workers whose disability is caused by a mental health condition or substance use disorder are not subject to discriminatory barriers imposed by their insurer or employee benefit plan.
In December 2023, the expert Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans (ERISA Advisory Council) reported that many insurance plans exclude or limit long-term disability coverage for individuals with mental health conditions or substance use disorder. Individuals whose disabilities stem from other health conditions, the report found, do not face the same barriers.
“One in five adults experience mental illness each year, but for too many Americans, proper support and care is out of reach because of gaps in law that allow insurers to provide inadequate coverage for disability caused by mental health conditions,” said HELP Subcommittee Ranking Member DeSaulnier. “I am proud to partner with Ranking Member Scott on this bill that would require parity in disability insurance coverage between mental health benefits and medical/surgical health benefits as we continue our efforts to break down the stigmas surrounding mental health care.”
“For too long, workers with behavioral health conditions have faced hurdles to accessing disability insurance that are not present for other health conditions. The Workers’ Disability Benefits Parity Act will strengthen consumer protections and ensure that workers with mental health conditions or substance use disorders will have the same access to disability coverage that is available to those with other disabilities.” said Ranking Member Scott.
The Workers’ Disability Benefits Parity Act:
- Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to require that private sector disability benefit plans comply with behavioral health parity,
- Establishes behavioral health parity for disability insurance and for employee benefit plans sponsored by state and local governments,
- Requires the Department of Labor (DOL) to implement other recommendations of the ERISA Advisory Council, and
- Authorizes funding for the Department of Labor to implement these requirements.
Read the bill text for the Workers’ Disability Benefits Parity Act here.
Read the fact sheet for the Workers’ Disability Benefits Parity Act here.
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