SENATE, No. 2167
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED JUNE 12, 1997
By Senators BASSANO and CODEY
An Act concerning health insurance benefits for mental health and supplementing various parts of the statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Every individual and group hospital service corporation contract that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1938, c.366 (C.17:48-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act shall provide coverage for mental illness under the same terms and conditions as provided for any other sickness under the contract. "Mental illness" means the same as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
The provisions of this section shall apply to all contracts in which the hospital service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
2. Every individual and group medical service corporation contract that provides hospital or medical expense benefits that is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1940, c.74 (C.17:48A-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act shall provide coverage for mental illness under the same terms and conditions as provided for any other sickness under the contract. "Mental illness" means the same as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
The provisions of this section shall apply to all contracts in which the medical service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
3. Every individual and group health service corporation contract that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1985, c.236 (C.17:48E-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act shall provide coverage for mental illness under the same terms and conditions as provided for any other sickness under the contract. "Mental illness" means the same as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
The provisions of this section shall apply to all contracts in which the health service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
4. a. Every individual health insurance policy that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to chapter 26 of Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act shall provide coverage for mental illness under the same terms and conditions as provided for any other sickness under the contract. "Mental illness" means the same as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
The provisions of this section shall apply to all policies in which the insurer has reserved the right to change the premium.
5. Every group health insurance policy that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to chapter 27 of Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act shall provide benefits for mental illness under the same terms and conditions as provided for any other sickness under the policy. "Mental illness" means the same as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
The provisions of this section shall apply to all policies in which the insurer has reserved the right to change the premium.
6. Every individual health benefits plan that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1992, c.161 (C.17B:27A-2 et seq.) or approved for issuance or renewal in this State on or after the effective date of this act shall provide benefits for mental illness under the same terms and conditions as provided for any other sickness under the health benefits plan. "Mental illness" means the same as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
The provisions of this section shall apply to all health benefits plans in which the carrier has reserved the right to change the premium.
7. Every small employer health benefits plan that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1992, c.162 (C.17B:27A-17 et seq.) or approved for issuance or renewal in this State on or after the effective date of this act shall provide benefits for mental illness under the same terms and conditions as provided for any other sickness under the health benefits plan. "Mental illness" means the same as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
The provisions of this section shall apply to all health benefits plans in which the carrier has reserved the right to change the premium.
8. Every enrollee agreement delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1973, c.337 (C.26:2J-1 et seq.) or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, on or after the effective date of this act shall provide health care services for mental illness under the same terms and conditions as provided for any other sickness under the agreement. "Mental illness" means the same as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
The provisions of this section shall apply to enrollee agreements in which the health maintenance organization has reserved the right to change the premium.
9. An employer in this State who provides health benefits coverage to his employees or their dependents for treatment of mental illness shall annually, and upon request of an employee at other times during the year, notify his employees whether the employees' coverage for treatment of mental illness is subject to the requirements of this act.
10. This act shall take effect on the 90th day after enactment and shall apply to contracts, policies and enrollee agreements issued or renewed on or after that date.
STATEMENT
This bill requires hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations and health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs to provide health benefits coverage for the treatment of mental illness under the same terms and conditions as provided for any other sickness. By requiring health benefits coverage for the treatment of mental illness, the bill promotes the relief and alleviation of health and medical problems which affect a significant portion of the population.
The bill defines "mental illness" as it is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
The bill also provides that an employer in this State who provides health benefits coverage to his employees or their dependents for treatment of mental illness shall annually, and upon request of an employee at other times during the year, notify his employees whether the employees' coverage for treatment of mental illness is subject to the requirements of the bill.
Requires health insurers to provide mental health benefits under the same terms and conditions as for other illnesses and diseases.