Georgia's 45 Health Insurance Mandates

Countin' Time Folks,

Here's a list of the 45 health insurance mandates that the State legislature has seen fit to add to your health insurance coverage over the years. Some of these are a good idea, some are pay offs to special interest lobbying groups and all of them are reminders that the guys and gals down at the Gold Dome really, really, really know what's best for you. So just shut up and pay for coverage you might not want or need. What do you think you are? A citizen or something?

The info is organized by the type of coverage, the amount it adds to the cost of your policy on average and the last number shows how many states out of 50 require the same coverage. Confusing? Yes. Expensive? Yes. Fixable? Not by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, it's a legislative thing.

Total number of Mandates: 45

Mandated Coverages 33

1. Alcoholism/Substance Abuse add <1% to 3% 45 states
2. Ambulatory Surgery add <1% to 3% 11 states
3. Autism add <1% 23 states
4. Bone Marrow Transplant add <1% 11 states
5. Bone Mass Measurement add >1% 16 states
6. Breast Reconstruction add <1% 51 states
7. Cervical Cancer/HPV Screening add <1% 31 states
8. Clamydia add <1% 5 states
9. Clinical Trail add <1% 23 states
10. Colorectal Cancer Screening add <1% 33 states
11. Contraceptive add 1% to 3% 29 states
12. Dental Anesthesia add <1% 30 states
13. Diabetes Self Management add <1% 34 states
14. Diabetic Supplies add <1% 47 states
15. Emergency Service add <1% 47 states
16. Habilitative Service ass <1% 3 states
17. Hearing Aid for Minors add <1% 14 states
18. Heart Transplant add <1% 1 state (Georgia Leads the way!)
19. In Vitro Fertilization add 3% to 5% 15 states
20. Mammography add <1% 50 states
21. Mastectomy add <1% 23 states
22. Mastectomy Minimum Stay add <1% 25 states
23. Maternity add 1% to 3% 23 states
24. Maternity Minimum Stay add <1% 50 states
25. Mental Health General add 1% to 3% 39 states
26. Mental Health Parity add 5% to 10% 47 states
27. Morbid Obesity Treatment add 1% to 3% 6 states
28. Off Label Drug Use add <1% 36 states
29. Ovarian Cancer Screening add <1% 7 states
30. Prostrate cancer Screening add <1% 36 states
31. TMJ Disorders add <1% 20 states
32. Vision Care Service add <1% 1 state (That would be Georgia)
33. Well Child care add 1% to 3% 34 states

 Mandated Providers

1. Athletic Trainer add <1% 3 states
2. Chiropractor add 1% to 3% 46 states
3. First Nurse Assistant add <1% 6 states
4. Optometrist add 1% to 3% 44 states
5. Psychologist add 1% to 3% 44 states

 Covered Persons
 1. Adopted Children add <1% 45 states
2. Continuation Dependent add <1% 43 states
3. Continuation Employee add <1% 45 states
4. Conversion to Non Group add 1% to 3% 42 states
5. Dependent Student/Adult add <1% 34 states
6. Disabled Dependent add 1% to 3% 42 states
7. Newborn add 1% to 3% 51 states

 To get the full story with a bewildering array of graphs and charts head over to Health Insurance Mandates in 2009 . It is informative but not very entertaining as is usually the case with things that cost you money that you don't know about.