Health Insurance Now Covers Psychological Treatment

For far too long, psychological treatment has been viewed as an extravagance suited only for the wealthy. In reality, mental illness afflicts anyone, regardless of their financial status. According to a Duke University study, nearly six in ten Americans are at risk of anxiety disorders, clinical depression, or substance abuse. Millions more are apt to experience mental ailments, expert say. Sadly, only about one fifth of these people will actually seek treatment. Most of those remaining will not and simply suffer in silence until their symptoms go away.

In general, majority of mental illnesses are treatable and manageable with appropriate care. And fortunately, psychological treatment is becoming more acceptable these days, partly because people are slowly recognizing the link between having a healthy body and a sound mind. Though many still view mental illness as a stigma, it is less overt now than it was in previous generations. Patients are now able to get psychological treatment without risking their job or credentials.

And what's more, health insurance companies now cover mental health treatment. As of January 1, 2010, The Mental Health Parity Act mandates insurers to treat mental health care on equal footing as medical treatment.

This means that patients in employer-sponsored group health insurance plans (groups with 50 or less employees are exempt) cannot be charged more out of pocket than they would be for medical treatment or have their benefits limited for mental health care. These services are now clustered under a single umbrella deductible with medical and surgical benefits.

In the past, only a few had access to high quality, evidence-based mental healthcare. Insurance companies placed restrictions on coverage of psychotherapy visits, allowing only 20 to 30 visits per year and requiring a co-pay of 20 percent to 50 percent. (Typically, most visits cost around $75 and $175 per hour) Also prescriptions from a psychiatrist are covered in the same manner, involving high co-payments for anti-depressants like Wellbutrin and Prozac. Moreover, insurers allowed fewer reimbursed days for psychological health - related hospitalization.

The implementation of the Mental Health Parity Act begins the final chapter in an effort to ensure that Americans diagnosed with debilitating and sometimes life-threatening disorders will not suffer unnecessary barriers put up by discriminatory health insurance policies. These rules expand on existing protections to ensure that people have equal access to health care.

The regulations will put into action the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. The legislation is named after the late Democratic Senator Wellstone, who was a strong advocate of equal treatment of benefits, and former Republican Senator Domenici, who first introduced parity legislation in 1992.

In conclusion, health insurance companies now are recognizing the necessity for mental health care. For ages, people had to pay for their own psychological treatment, which can be extremely expensive over the long-term. Knowing that you can now share the cost with your health insurance company is a revolution of the good kind. Also, having laws that recognize psychological disorders as legitimate illnesses is absolutely critical for ending long-term stigma.

 

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