Plain English Breakdown
The bill was vetoed; while lawmakers can override a veto, the official status indicates no effective date and the last action noted consideration of the veto.
Coverage for Behavioral Health Visits
This vetoed bill proposed requiring large group health plans to pay for up to 12 mental health visits for people in wildfire emergency counties who suffered loss, trauma, or displacement.
What This Bill Does
- Requires large group health care service plan contracts and insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, to cover behavioral health care under specific conditions.
- Reimburses eligible members for up to 12 visits with a behavioral health provider if they live in a county where a local or state emergency was declared due to wildfires and experienced loss, trauma, or displacement from the fire.
- Prohibits insurance companies from using utilization review processes to limit these specific benefits.
- Requires insurers and service plans to send written notice about this coverage to all affected members.
Who It Names or Affects
- Large group health care service plan contracts
- Health insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026
- Enrollees living in counties with declared wildfire emergencies who suffered loss, trauma, or displacement
Terms To Know
- Behavioral health provider
- A professional who treats mental health and substance use disorders.
- Utilization review
- A process where an insurer checks if a medical service is necessary before paying for it.
Limits and Unknowns
- The governor vetoed this bill, so it did not become active state law.
- Coverage only applies to large group plans, not individual policies or small groups.
- Benefits are limited strictly to counties where a local or state emergency was declared due to wildfires.