Wednesday, Jun. 28, 2023
Do Minnesota’s public health insurance programs offer mental health coverage?
MinnesotaCare, a state health care program for Minnesotans with low incomes, covers inpatient and outpatient mental health care, including psychotherapy, as well as hospital and residential services for substance use disorder. Telehealth services are included.
Medical Assistance, Minnesota's Medicaid program, also covers mental and behavioral health services, and substance use disorder services for adults and children.
The federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, enacted in 2008 and named after the late Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone, ensures mental health conditions are covered by insurance plans on an equal basis to physical conditions. This affects plan aspects such as cost sharing and other numerical limits on treatment such as annual in-patient day limits.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Minnesota Department of Human Services MinnesotaCare Program Info
- Minnesota Department of Human Services MinnesotaCare Coverage
- Minnesota Department of Human Services Medical Assistance (MA)
- American Psychiatric Association Mental Health Parity
- Minnesota Public Radio News Associated Press — After 12 years, Wellstone mental health parity act is law
- Minnesota Department of Human Services Managed Care Summary of Coverage, Cost Sharing and Limits for MinnesotaCare
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