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Member
Member Since Jan 2009
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 135
15 1 hugs
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Dec 07, 2010 at 03:38 PM
#1
I just got a letter from my health insurance company (Capital BlueCross, for south-central Pennsylvania) saying behavioral health will no longer be covered as of January 1, 2011…I thought the healthcare reforms were supposed to be better for mental health coverage. (I had "comprehensive", paid privately.)
Does anyone have any suggestions? I wouldn't mind something at a national level, if that exists, rather than something tied to a specific region (may be moving). I tried to figure out from the CapBC website my options, but couldn't make heads or tails of it. I'm going to call them, but I'm not sanguine about the odds of them steering my towards anything other than the higher-priced stuff. I'm not working right now, but don't qualify for any govt programs. Also I've had Dxs of depression/anxiety/adjustment disorder for >10 years, I'm assuming that's a "major pre-existing condition"? tia __________________ "Psychiatric diagnoses are very useful metaphors." |
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Magnate
Member Since Aug 2010
Location: KS
Posts: 2,231
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Dec 07, 2010 at 03:42 PM
#2
You can always ask your pdoc about similar meds that are on the waalmart four dollar list. Also to see a pdoc and a therapist, there are many places, usually in bigger cities, ,that offer free or very low cost mental health services for people who are uninsured and have low or no income.
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Magnate
Member Since Aug 2010
Location: KS
Posts: 2,231
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Dec 07, 2010 at 03:43 PM
#3
I don't have an income or insurance, and have found a place that gives me free vistaril, and therapy sessions for life 4 dollars each as well as pdoc sessions for same price. And i get my citalopram for 4 dollars from walmart.
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Member
Member Since Jan 2009
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 135
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Dec 07, 2010 at 03:45 PM
#4
Quote:
oh i forgot to say i actually don't take my meds coverage would be entirely for psychotherapy __________________ "Psychiatric diagnoses are very useful metaphors." |
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Magnate
Member Since Aug 2010
Location: KS
Posts: 2,231
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Dec 07, 2010 at 03:46 PM
#5
Oh ok well it goes for the therapy sessions too then.
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Member
Member Since Jan 2009
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 135
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Dec 07, 2010 at 03:57 PM
#6
Quote:
i was just interested in something that wasn't free/really low-cost (although i don't have even any experience with it, maybe it's better than i imagine) hope that doesn't sound snobby also i will probably be overseas for a while next year so would see someone out-of-network and mail the bills in myself __________________ "Psychiatric diagnoses are very useful metaphors." |
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Magnate
Member Since Aug 2010
Location: KS
Posts: 2,231
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Dec 07, 2010 at 04:04 PM
#7
Well dint toss the option k? My low cost/free services have the same kind of psychiatrists and therapists as any other not so free clinic. Just sayin
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Wise Elder
Member Since Jan 2009
Posts: 7,516
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Dec 07, 2010 at 04:26 PM
#8
I'm sorry to say, the new insurance laws only apply to group insurance policies, not individual policies. So there are no protections for you in those new laws. I would call them and ask them if there is a way to get it added and how much it would cost. You might want to get quotes from other companies also. Good luck.
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Member
Member Since Jan 2009
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 135
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Dec 07, 2010 at 04:56 PM
#9
Quote:
Thanks that clarifies it a lot. I am going to call them. Anyone else who's familiar with this part of the country (southcentral/southeastern Penn.) know of any other companies that might have good (better) individual policies that include "behavioral health"? __________________ "Psychiatric diagnoses are very useful metaphors." |
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Legendary
Member Since Aug 2007
Location: West of Tampa Bay, East of the Gulf of Mexico
Posts: 14,352
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Dec 07, 2010 at 05:40 PM
#10
This is how the insurance companies will get around the parity laws.
Parity only applies *if* the policy covers mental health and substance abuse, and applies to plans with anniversary dates 7/1/2010 and after. The way to get out of this is to drop mental health/substance abuse coverage altogether. |
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Member
Member Since Jan 2009
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 135
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Dec 07, 2010 at 05:53 PM
#11
Quote:
i guess decision comes down to whether presumably extremely high insurance rate that covers mental health is worth it vs. paying out of pocket with no coverage for psychotherapy __________________ "Psychiatric diagnoses are very useful metaphors." |
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Skeleton Queen
Chat Leader
Member Since Feb 2010
Location: Northeastern Pennsylvania
Posts: 8,040
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Dec 10, 2010 at 07:51 AM
#12
If the are dropping the mental health coverage, they should still cover the medications you are taking because they are not dropping the prescription coverage. Regardless of what you are taking and for what, they should cover it.
__________________ Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those who matter.. Don’t mind... And those who mind.. Don’t matter." (Dr. Seuss) 
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Member
Member Since Jan 2009
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 135
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Dec 10, 2010 at 10:37 AM
#13
Quote:
__________________ "Psychiatric diagnoses are very useful metaphors." |
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Pandita-in-training
Member Since Sep 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 27,289
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Dec 10, 2010 at 06:28 PM
#14
Does this apply to you?
https://www.capbluecross.com/Provide.../MentalHealth/ I would definitely call Capital and find out what's going on; if they're just stopping one and starting another or as Echoes says, they're dropping any coverage for mental health or what. __________________ "Never give a sword to a man who can't dance." ~Confucius |
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Member
Member Since Jan 2009
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 135
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Dec 10, 2010 at 06:30 PM
#15
Quote:
__________________ "Psychiatric diagnoses are very useful metaphors." |
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Member
Member Since Jan 2009
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 135
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Mar 08, 2011 at 12:02 AM
#16
Quote:
Btw when I got back from overseas last month there was a letter from CBC saying my behavioral health coverage had been reinstalled for 2011 (and they hoped they hadn't caused me any "inconvenience"!). Was wondering if maybe it was because I talked to a customer service rep and declined to setup automatic monthly billing because I would need to be switching providers soon anyway. Regardless the problem has been pushed back at least a year, although I'm going to try to figure something out quicker this time. Thanks for the CBC/Magellan link __________________ "Psychiatric diagnoses are very useful metaphors." |
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Elder
Member Since Jan 2011
Location: missing
Posts: 6,693
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Mar 08, 2011 at 03:42 AM
#17
Glad it's straightened out for now...in the future have you considered asking T for a sliding scale fee? Some will, some won't..worth a shot
__________________  Children's talent to endure stems from their ignorance of alternatives. ~ Maya Angelou Thank you SadNEmpty for my avatar and signature.
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Member
Member Since Jan 2009
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 135
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Mar 08, 2011 at 10:34 AM
#18
Quote:
__________________ "Psychiatric diagnoses are very useful metaphors." |
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Wandering soul
Member Since Apr 2010
Location: Off yonder
Posts: 6,019
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Mar 11, 2011 at 08:38 AM
#19
If they do this again or you decide to go with a new plan, even though your policy will no longer be covering mental health and probably need it for your other medical anyway, just do not let it lapse before finding another and being covered by it. You cannot be subjected to a preexisting clause with the new policy if you get a "certificate of coverage" letter from your existing company which will help with the transition and ensure you do not get slammed without it, so instead existing diagnoses are covered with the new one.
Glad it was reinstated in the meantime. Good luck finding a new plan if you decide to do so!! 
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Junior Member
Member Since Mar 2011
Location: Phoenix area
Posts: 12
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Mar 26, 2011 at 08:28 PM
#20
Quote:
__________________ "It takes chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star." |
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