Mental Health Parity: What’s Your Biggest Concern?
October 9, 2008 by Alicia Sparks, Mental Health Notes
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
A couple of days ago, I shared some of my very general thoughts about the Paul Wellstone-Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, and then pointed you in the direction of the legislation’s actual text.
The more I read about the Paul Wellstone-Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (gah, what a mouthful, yes?), the more I discover about the questions, concerns, and fears others have.
Why should I care about this? I don’t even have health insurance.
My company doesn’t have more than 50 people, so what do I have to be excited about?
If my current health insurance plan doesn’t already offer mental health coverage, do I still benefit from this legislation?
Just exactly how high are premiums going to skyrocket, now?
Do these echo some of your own thoughts, or is something else running through your mind you’d like to share? Or, maybe you have some knowledge about the legislation you’d like to share to help clear up confusion?
The legislation is a good step, but I’m worried for those who don’t have insurance at all.
In this country alone (US), one in seven low-income folks suffer from depression, much higher for this and other mental illnesses than the general population. The financial mess is likely to cause more mental health problems as more people suffer from economic strains that can push them over the edge.
My blog focuses on the needs of low-income Americans and we wrote a post today on ways to look for signs of mental illness and options for getting low or no cost help. Check it out at http://current.pic.tv/2008/10/09/tough-times-can-hurt-your-mental-health/
Thanks for your post.
While I am glad it passed, and its a first step, the real question is will mental health be an equal partner in the health care changes that are surely coming with a new president. Now that they are legislatively equivalent, its harder to argue to leave it out when the horestrading begins.
@ Colin – I, too, am worried about folks who have no health insurance at all (myself being one of them!). Thanks for sharing your blog post, I hope it helps someone.
@ David – I’m sure, with it being the first step, there will be many changes to come down the road. Hopefully those changes will work to make it more effective (as my understanding of it leads me to believe that, as it currently stands, it’s only going to benefit a small portion of people).