HB 1440 -- Health Insurance

Co-Sponsors:  Riback Wilson (25), Harlan, Harding, Barry,
Kreider, Hilgemann, Naeger, Graham, Van Zandt, Kelly (27), Ladd
Baker, Troupe

Under current law, there are several exceptions to the
requirement that health insurers who cover services for mental
illness and addictive disorders provide the same coverage as they
do for physical illness.  These include exceptions that allow
insurers to limit inpatient hospital treatment for mental illness
to 90 days per year (Section 376.811, RSMo), place annual and
lifetime limits on alcohol and drug abuse treatment services
(Section 376.827), and exclude or apply different limits to
certain specified services (Section 376.833).

This bill repeals the current law and prohibits health carriers
and health benefit plans that offer plans in this state on or
after January 1, 2003, from having cost-sharing requirements and
benefit or service limitations for outpatient or inpatient mental
health and addictive disorder services that place a greater
burden on the insured than the requirements and limitations for
outpatient or inpatient medical services.

The bill does not apply to supplemental insurance policies.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:01 am