New legislation was just signed that will allow for expansion of services to treat mental illnesses. No longer will insurance companies be allowed to offer less service for a mental illness compared to a physical illness. The law will taked effect in Jan. 2010, co-pays, benefit levels and out of pocket expenses will be the same for a mental illness as a physical illness. This fundamentally will change how people with mental illness are treated in the future.
Read the Washington Post Article:
Law Equalizes Coverage For Mental, Physical Care.
Advocates said the law is also an important step in erasing the stigma often associated with such illnesses as post-traumatic stress disorder or anxiety-related conditions. “The bill normalizes mental illness and recognizes these are biologically based conditions, not bad parenting or being mentally weak,” said Mira Signer, executive director of the Virginia chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “It puts these conditions on par with everything else.”
This law was signed into effect as part of the economic rescue package.
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Couldn’t agree with you more. Next should be dental. I have never understood why dental is not lumped in with medical. Thanks for commenting.
I am so glad that people will soon be able to take some of the cost causing stress out of their life.
This is long over due. Families that have members with mental illness should have always had the coverage.
I just hope that insurance companies do not try to mess it up just to save themselves money.
Sheryl