Vermont's Health Insurance Coverage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment
In 1997, Vermont enacted a “Mental Health Parity” law that requires your health insurer to provide at least as much financial coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment as for treatment for other health conditions.
Vermont’s largest insurers are required to file annual reports with the Health Care Administration about the amount of mental health and substance abuse treatment they cover, denials of coverage, and the amount of money they spend on covered services. The Health Care Administration, in conjunction with a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Task Force then issues an annual “Health Insurer Mental Health and Substance Abuse Report Card” on the access to quality of and cost of such services.
Insurer Act 129 Data Filing Resources
Vermont’s Mental Health Task Force
In April 2000, the Act 129 Task Force was officially established in accordance with the requirements of Title 8, V.S.A. § 4089b (h) 1-5.
Other Resources
- Counterpoint Newspaper
- Vermont Department of Mental Health
- Vermont Association for Mental Health
- Vermont Psychiatric Association
- Vermont Psychiatric Survivors
- Disability Rights Vermont (formerly Vermont Protection and Advocacy)
- National Alliance for Mental Illness
- National Association of Social Workers - Vermont Chapter
- Vermont Mental Health Counselors Association
- Vermont Psychological Association