Jharkhand High Court Held Equal Reimbursement for Mental Health Treatment

The Jharkhand High Court held that under the Mental Healthcare Act,2017, there can be no discrimination between physical and psychiatric illness regarding medical reimbursements.

The court emphasized that insurers must treat mental illness & physical illness equally in reimbursement schemes. Any exclusion of psychiatric treatment from insurance policies is legally invalid.

It highlighted that Coal India Limited & its subsidiaries are State under Article 12 and must adhere to this statutory requirement.

The court ordered Bharat Coal Limited to reimburse expenses for psychiatric treatment.