Mental Health Awareness Month declared in Tennessee

May has been declared Mental Health Awareness Month by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee.

In supporting this proclamation, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI), and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) remind Tennesseans to understand how insurance may help cover the cost of mental health treatment, a press release from TDCI said.

Under legislation passed by Congress in 2008, any health insurance plan that covers mental health treatment must, generally, match its coverage with the plan's physical health coverage. This applies to copays, deductibles, the number of days covered for a hospital stay, prior authorization, prescription drug tiers, and maximum benefit limits, the press release noted.

"A person's emotional, psychological, and mental well-being is just as important as their physical well-being," said TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence. "Our team is grateful for the opportunity to work with our colleagues at the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to help raise awareness of this important issue."

"We've entered new territory where people feel comfortable about discussing mental health challenges they might be experiencing, and that is a truly wonderful thing. To match that new level of awareness of the role of mental health in every aspect of life, we want to make sure that Tennesseans can openly access the care they need," said TDMHSAS Commissioner Marie Williams. "With our partners at TDCI, we're excited to work toward a future where all Tennesseans easily access the mental health services they need."

What you need to know about mental health coverage:

Contact your health insurance company to learn if your policy covers mental health and substance abuse treatment. If your plan does, then the mental health treatment limitations may not be more restrictive than limitations on physical health services. For example, if your copay is $30 for physical health services, it must be no more than $30 for comparable mental health services. If your plan covers 40 physical therapy visits, your plan must cover 40 behavioral health visits. Treatment for these services may include therapy, behavioral counseling, in-patient and out-patient treatment, and medication management. Your health plan should provide a directory of in-network professionals and facilities that are close to you. If a provider does not accept insurance, contact your health insurance company and ask if you can file claims after receiving the treatment to help cover a portion of the cost.

Tennesseans who have their claim denied or believe their insurance company is not covering mental services at the same rate as physical services should file a complaint with TDCI, the press release said.

To file a complaint, visit TDCI's website at tn.gov/commerce.html, select the "Resources & Services" menu and click "File a Complaint" to submit the online complaint form.

TDCI's Consumer Insurance Services team will mediate between the consumer and the insurance company to help facilitate a solution, the press release said.

In 2025, TDCI's Consumer Insurance Services team recovered $15.67 million from insurance companies for Tennesseans, the press release noted.

For more information, call 615-741-2218 or 1-800-342-4029.

TDCI encourages anyone experiencing a mental health emergency to call or text 988 to connect with a counselor or chat with 988lifeline.org.