We’re investigating mental health insurance denials in California. What should we know?

Apr 22, 2024 | 8:43 am ET

By Jocelyn Wiener

California law requires insurance plans to cover medically necessary mental health treatment. CalMatters wants to know how the system is working for you. Illustration by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters; iStock

Four years ago, California’s leaders passed a new law to make insurance companies pay for mental health and addiction treatment that’s medically necessary.

Despite that, today, insurance companies still sometimes refuse to pay for needed treatments.

CalMatters wants your help learning about this problem. We want to hear from patients, family members, health care providers, attorneys, policymakers, regulators, and people who currently or previously worked for or with insurance companies.

If you have been denied mental health or addiction treatment by your insurance company that your doctor says you need, or if you have other information that relates to this issue, please take the survey below and share your story with us.

Our reporters will read every submission, and promise to protect your privacy. Nothing you share will be published without your knowledge and consent. If you prefer, you can email our reporter, Jocelyn Wiener, directly at [email protected] or via Signal at jocelynwiener.14.

Patients: Has your health insurance company refused to pay for an intensive service to treat mental illness or addiction, even though your doctor says it is medically necessary?

Doctors: Are insurers agreeing to pay for the mental health and addiction treatment you think your patients need?

Insurers: If you have worked for or with health insurers or regulators, either now or in the past, we want to hear from you. Tell us what’s working – and what’s not.

Not impacted? You can still help. Share this on your social networks and send it to local nonprofits that advocate for people with mental illness or addiction in your community.

Here are some options of other next steps you could take:

Here’s information on filing a complaint or requesting an Independent Medical Review with the Department of Managed Health Care or the Department of Insurance.
ProPublica has also put together this nifty tool for requesting your claim file – which allows you to see all documents, notes and phone calls related to your case.