The Agency has just been informed by Wellmark that a new federal law called the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) will go into effect July 1, 2010. This law mandates the equal treatment of mental health and substance abuse disorder benefits with other standard medical and surgical coverage. This change will require parity of out-of-pocket costs, visits and benefit limits.
The only change you will notice in your coverage will be that no deductible will be charged for mental health visits that are currently billed as outpatient as long as you use an in-network provider. The deductible will continue to be charged for inpatient hospitalization for mental health and substance abuse or for use of an out-of-network provider.
Wellmark has calculated the financial effect that the company expects this expanded benefit to have on our plan, and at this time, it is only increasing the rates for our $1,500 deductible plan. If you have selected the $1,500 family deductible health plan for the new year to begin July 1, your family rates will go up by $0.07 per pay period. That brings your pay period deduction to $188.18. Payroll deducts your portion of the benefits you select out of your paycheck the month before they become effective, so family health and dental premiums for July will come out of your June paychecks.
If you have questions about the new Mental Health Parity Act and how it will affect you, please contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14385.
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