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New parity law offers more help for mental health care

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:20:00 +0000

The U.S. federal government Jan 29 implemented a law requiring that health insurance plans cover mental and physical illnesses to the same extent, medscape reported. The

Patricia Brooks

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:18:39 +0000

That's great, but what about individual policies? As soon as the employer finds out that the employee has a mental illness, they will be observed with more scrutiny than other employees. This requires individuals who are functioning well, doing their jobs well, to get a private policy. If they don't, every little thing will be attributed to their mental illness.

Doug504

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:34:47 +0000

In 1996 health insurance companies were supposed to provide "parity" between physical and mental illnesses.

But in 2006 (10 years later), insurance plans still covered significantly less of the cost for mental health than physical health.

How is that "parity"?

Bibi

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:30:55 +0000

I have a mental illness and right now I can see my doctors 30 times a year shared between my psychiatric and my psychologist and it's not enough I need to be followed every week for my therapy and see my other doc. too for my meds. so I'm glad it's changing. Mental illnesses are real illnesses and need to be treated seriously. Don't think that it is fun for us to be mentally ill. We need help too and it help and protect the society too to keep mental patient healthy.

Mike

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:17:30 +0000

This law is a complete farce. No one knows that after only ONE year, any employer whose medical costs rose by a paltry 2% can opt out of the law. And that's 2% of their ENTIRE medical budget, not just claims related to mental health. This is the weakest, dumbest law established by Congress that does nothing for anyone. Just you wait and see.

Mark

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:28:16 +0000

Take a look at the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). This is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is the psychologists reference "bible". It lists the following as mental disorders:

Academic Problem
Acculturation Problem
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Borderline Intellectual Functioning
Child or Adolescent Antisocial Behavior
Conduct Disorder
Disruptive Behavior Disorder
Female Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Identity Problem
Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
Malingering
Neglect of Child
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Parent-Child Relational Problem
Partner Relational Problem
Phase of Life Problem
Reading Disorder
Religious or Spiritual Problem
Sibling Relational Problem
Stuttering
Transvestic Fetishism

The government wants you to pay higher insurance premiums to cover instances such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Translated, this is a kid who defies his parents. Now, according to the DSM, this kid is mentally ill and will cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to be "treated" when a spanking might work.

Further, the DSM essentially says we are all mentally ill and need "treatment". This is a boon to government and its friends in the drug industry.

In short, pure BS.

jannymassa

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:54:54 +0000

Find instant medical insurance for your family from http://bit.ly/atGzeD

Bibi

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:54:49 +0000

And what about those who are really mentally ill, you guys are all a band of selfish brats you deserve to have a mental disease and see. And don't cry if somebody arm somebody else because he is not treated well for a mental disease be cause of you. And then we the sick are the monsters. Not you, noooooo!!!!!

george ebert

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:14:26 +0000

I was subjected to forced psychiatric experimentation, drugging, and shock treatment. My life savings were taken to pay for these tortures. I am glad I was not rich, nor had insurance. I would still be treated as "mentally ill".

Bibi

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 03:39:30 +0000

Well there is bad doctors in the world and obviously george you had bads ones who diagnosed you wrong and you are not mentally ill, but it's not everybody's case, for my part I want help to pay for my meds and visits, i want to get better and without my meds I cannot function. And I cannot afford it on my own. I guess without insurance I would already be dead!