Mental Health Benefit Change Beginning September 1st, 2021

Mental Health Benefit Change Beginning September 1st, 2021

Starting Sept. 1, 2021, in-network behavioral health office services will be covered at 100% of BCBSNE’s allowable amount, whether in-person or by using the telehealth benefit. (Out-of-network telehealth visits will continue to be non-covered.) HSA-eligible High Deductible Health Plans are still subject to deductible and coinsurance for in-person and telehealth behavioral health office visits. Per IRS regulations, except for preventive health benefits, insurance carriers cannot pay first dollar coverage on HSA-eligible HDHP plans. First dollar coverage means insurance pays expenses beginning with the first dollar charged for health care, without copayments or deductibles having to be paid.  The current definition of preventive health benefits does not include behavioral health treatment.