The treatment of mental health disorders is an argument that has gone on for many, many years. Some say that these disorders are not treatable (or curable), and others argue the opposite. Regardless of what side of the argument you take, until recently, insurance carriers have been reluctant to exceed state mandated coverage in their plan designs. This has discouraged those with mental health disorders to seek adequate treatment due to cost. Fortunately federal and state lawmakers are slowly addressing the issue of mental health parity.
Mental health disorders are like many physical illnesses. While they may not be "curable", they are manageable. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even many cancers are not curable. However, people with these conditions can live a long and full life with medications that manage the disease. The same can be said with mental health illness. And in many instances, left untreated, these mental disorders can lead to serious physical illness.
For those of you who have never experienced clinical depression, anxiety or any other mental health disorder, it may be difficult for you to understand the real impact that these conditions have on one's life. As many families struggle with finances, divorce, job loss, or any other tragedy, more people are seeking treatment from a mental health professional. These illnesses are even becoming more socially acceptable. Yet the cost, in many cases, is still a prohibitive factor. What can we do to help encourage change?
Some legislative progress has occurred in recent years, but it's just not enough. Insurance carriers will never take the initiative themselves. For real Mental Health Parity to occur, it will have to be done through federal and state government actions. I encourage you to write letters or make personal phone calls to your federal and state legislators. They can enact laws that will force insurance carriers to achieve this much needed equality.
No comments:
Post a Comment