Sample Insurance Commissioner Letter printable pdf download

SAMPLE LETTER THAT YOU CAN USE TO WRITE TO YOUR INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

(Month)(Day)(Year)

Commissioner (Last name)

Street address

City, State, Zip Code

RE: Prevent deaths from drug overdoses and suicides by enforcing the Federal Parity Law

Dear Commissioner (Last name),

My name is (your first and last name) and I am a (consumer of behavioral health services/family member

of someone with a behavioral health condition/behavioral health care advocate/behavioral health

provider) who resides in your state.

Every day 246 people die from drug overdoses and suicides in this country. Despite this shocking public

health crisis, over half of individuals with a mental illness and substance use disorders do not receive

appropriate treatment services, often because they are denied coverage of lifesaving treatment by their

insurance plans.

I urge you to do everything within your power to bring health insurers under your jurisdiction into

compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (The Federal Parity Law), which was

signed into law by President George W. Bush nearly a decade ago. Unfortunately, the protections within

this law remain unrealized as health insurers continue are not fully in compliance.

I’m not an expert on regulatory practices or behavioral health, but I did read the SAMHSA report that

included advice from regulators around the country who have decided to prioritize parity implementation

(

h ttp://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA16-4983/SMA16-4983.pdf

) . Those regulators emphasized that

the two most important things a state regulator can do are:

1. Analyze all behavioral health complaints for potential parity violations : Often consumers will not

mention the word “parity” so a review of all behavioral health complaints is critical to identifying

violations

2. Perform market conduct examinations : Random and targeted audits to investigate plans

identified through consumer complaints or other compliance surveys

I look forward to your response demonstrating how you plan to increase enforcement.

Sincerely,

SIGN YOUR NAME

Print your name

Sample Insurance Commissioner Letter