Helping Ohioans Access and Navigate Mental Health Care Through Insurance
by Judith L. French, Director
A focus for the Ohio Department of Insurance in 2023 and beyond is helping Ohioans access and navigate mental health care through insurance.
Earlier this year, Governor DeWine signed an executive order creating the Ohio Mental Health Insurance Assistance Office (MHIA) within the Ohio Department of Insurance. MHIA staff work to ensure Ohioans understand their mental health and substance use disorder benefits to get the care they need, and to address complaints from consumers when insurance issues arise.
Education and engagement with different audiences – consumers, employers, mental health advocates, behavioral health providers, and other stakeholders – is critical to making everyone more knowledgeable about mental health insurance, as well as the services and information provided by the Ohio Mental Health Insurance Assistance Office. We produce educational materials and toolkits and hold different types of informational sessions and trainings.
Whether someone has health insurance through an employer or a government program, purchased it directly through an insurance agent or is uninsured, the Ohio Mental Health Insurance Assistance Office is ready to assist. Staff also triage inquiries with other regulatory agencies for health insurance that is not regulated by the Ohio Department of Insurance.
Visit the Ohio Mental Health Insurance Assistance Office's website at insurance.ohio.gov/getmhia, call 855-438-6442, or email getmhia@insurance.ohio.gov with any questions or insurance complaints.
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Get Ready for a New Surprise Billing Arbitration Entity in 2024
Starting January 1, 2024, surprise billing arbitrations will be handled by Federal Hearings & Appeals Services (FHAS).
FHAS will provide arbitration services for Ohio H.B. 388, which allows for independent dispute resolution of a bill for covered emergency services rendered by an out-of-network medical service provider.
The application process is available on our website at insurance.ohio.gov.
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How to File an Insurance Complaint
Ohio law gives insurance consumers the right to file complaints against insurance companies and entities, agents, and more. Consumers can file insurance complaints with the Ohio Department of Insurance.
Annually, the department saves consumers millions of dollars by reviewing different types of insurance complaints related to cancellations, refunds, sales practices, misrepresentation, claim and benefit disputes, and more.
Is Usage-Based Auto Insurance Right for You?
Usage-based auto insurance (UBI) allows insurers to track driving behavior to customize premium discounts and benefits for individual drivers.
Think you are safer than average? Use DriveCheck, a tool from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, to help gauge how you might score before you agree to plug in your insurer's diagnostic device.
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What to Know About Health Care Sharing Ministries, Discount Plans, and Risk-Sharing Plans
Consumer protection laws govern many types of health insurance coverage, like plans purchased through an employer or the health insurance marketplace. However, other plans are not insurance and are not required to protect consumers.
Consumers who use health care sharing ministries, discount plans, or risk-sharing plans can best protect themselves by understanding the coverage they participate in.
 Insurance Jobs are In Demand
Insurance jobs are in demand! The Ohio insurance industry is one of the largest employers in Ohio, a mainstay of the economy, and dynamic well-paying opportunities in different career paths are available.
Whether someone isn't currently in the workforce, is a student, career changer, or veteran, there are opportunities in fields such as administration, claims, finance, human resources, law and regulation, marketing and communications, operations, sales, technology, underwriting and analysis, and more.
Find an insurance career that matches your interests and skills. Search here for jobs that are available in Ohio.
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