CT SB00016

Prohibits health insurance policies from placing greater financial burden on insureds for mental or nervous condition diagnosis/treatment compared to medical or physical health conditions, effective January 1, 2016.

Eliminates limits on the number of visits allowed to assess an insured for a diagnosis of a condition.

Requires insurance policies to cover consultations with licensed providers (physicians, psychologists, clinical social workers, marital and family therapists, alcohol and drug counselors, and professional counselors) that include the insured or family members during diagnostic assessments and after a mental or nervous condition diagnosis is made.

Applies to both individual health insurance policies (Section 38a-488a) and group health insurance policies (Section 38a-514), with exceptions for group policies that exclude these benefits when covered under a separate policy.

Defines "mental or nervous conditions" as mental disorders per the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, excluding intellectual disabilities, learning disorders, and certain other conditions not classified as mental disorders.