Mental Health Experts Applaud Focus on Parity

Now mental health advocates are almost giddy. The law signed by President Obama last week expands parity to a much wider pool, making it possible for millions more people to get the same coverage for substance abuse and illnesses like bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia as they would for, say, diabetes or cancer. There are no exact figures, but the mentally ill are more likely to be uninsured than the general population, advocates and researchers say.

The problem I have is that the docs seem to want to down-grade the Major Repression to "serious depression."

Anthem declined to comment on the case because of privacy laws, but said in a statement that in some cases a pre-existing condition, or a combination of conditions, “may require us to decline coverage.”

And this is another problem. According to the VA, we are just born w the condition and no link to the service can be made unless you requested help which is counter to how most people w MD would react to their problem.

Excellent news! Right now, I'm insured and my copays and prescriptions for mental health issues is the same as if I had a medical illness. That changes when it comes to hospitalization though. Basically I could afford about 4 days and then I would have to leave the hospital for mental health reasons. Now, all that has changed. Plus, I would think the Family Leave Act would enable my husband to stay home with my kids if I ever did need to go to the hospital. Thanks, Scott!