[pachyderm]

The federal administration is due to publish rules today requiring insurance companies to cover mental health issues equally with physical ones:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/us...l-ills.html?hp

[Perna]

And, they did: Administration issues final mental health and substance use disorder parity rule

[MoxieDoxie]

Can someone put this in English please.

[ECHOES]

Originally Posted by Perna

And, they did: Administration issues final mental health and substance use disorder parity rule

Perna, your link doesn't deliver Can you post another?

[IndieVisible]

the link worked for me.

It's about freaking time! Freaking health insurance companies have been sooo skimpy for MI/addiction coverage just to save money and not dig in their huge profits.

If I understand this correctly now they have to proved equal coverage for MI/addition the same or at least way closer to primary care!

I'm so happy I could relapse (j/k)

[ECHOES]

Thank you, IndieVisible. I tried again and the link worked just fine.

[Perna]

I was going to say, maybe it has to do with those people in Florida

I feel like we have come almost full circle; back in the 70's when I started in the mental health system we had really good coverage and eventually it went away; my T even had me write a letter to my Congressmen back then, to complain when they started to mess with things.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by MoxieDoxie

Can someone put this in English please.

Mental health insurance coverage will be treated like physical health insurance coverage, won't have its own limiting rules. I am not sure that insurance plans have to have mental health coverage though (unlike pregnancy coverage :-) just that if they do, they have to cover it similarly to how they do physical health and the whole "behavioral health" thing worries me. Treating addictions is one thing but often they aren't the actual problem. I think we will see even more medicines rather than one-on-one therapies.

[healingme4me]

Originally Posted by Perna

Mental health insurance coverage will be treated like physical health insurance coverage, won't have its own limiting rules. I am not sure that insurance plans have to have mental health coverage though (unlike pregnancy coverage :-) just that if they do, they have to cover it similarly to how they do physical health and the whole "behavioral health" thing worries me. Treating addictions is one thing but often they aren't the actual problem. I think we will see even more medicines rather than one-on-one therapies.

I get that they won't with MI/Substance Abuse Disorders, make 'quantitative' limits on how many sessions.

If it's going to be treated financially the same as medical/surgical benefits. I am curious, about co-pays, etc. For instance, general wellness check ups, for my childrens pediatrician are copay free. Surgical follow up appointments, have no co pay. Pregnancy, no copay, after initial visit that places one, under months-long care.

ADD: Perna, it says that they MUST cover it, if they cover medical/surgical coverage

Will, follow up visits, hold same insurance benefits? I am sure, all the kinks will come out, as it's implemented. These links, are just the legal jargon, without explaining how it will work, in reality.

Can you imagine, weekly therapy sessions, covered by insurance, but where I don't have to fork out $20/week or $80/month, and on and on??

you will pay a copay like doctors' visits. My therapy and pdoc copays are only $25. Therapy visits aren't follow ups, nor are the time limited (like a pregnancy), so obviously you pay a copay as you go.

[healingme4me]

What I am uncertain about, reading these links, is it 'interim' effective January1, 2014; officially in effect July1,2014??

[healingme4me]

My main concern, is that I know, that soon to be in effect, is that there aren't many non-included pre-existing conditions where one can be denied coverage, anywhere, in the country. For instance, in MA, I have MS, and cannot be denied coverage.

Yet, reading that they are covering substance abuse treatment, BUT smoking is a pre-existing condition, that I read, people can be denied coverage. Many people I know, that may receive treatment for alcoholism, do smoke. Is it a double edged sword?

Do people need to just say, they are smoke free?? How does, that work?

[Perna]

The new ruling does not apply to Medicaid or Medicare and there are lots of areas that do not have adequate mental health services so some people will be paying for what they don't need/can't get; the biggest help is for those who need inpatient services; there use to be stupid things going on like you could get care in-state but not out-of-state even though you could get regular physical health care anywhere. Those limiting rules have changed.

[healingme4me]

Originally Posted by Perna

The new ruling does not apply to Medicaid or Medicare and there are lots of areas that do not have adequate mental health services so some people will be paying for what they don't need/can't get; the biggest help is for those who need inpatient services; there use to be stupid things going on like you could get care in-state but not out-of-state even though you could get regular physical health care anywhere. Those limiting rules have changed.

I know that one can piggy-back health insurances. Are these connector plans, everywhere else, remotely affordable, so someone can buy additional coverage, to get behavioral services?

Plan in MA, range from a couple dollars a month, to $200/month, depending on financial status and which plan, is purchased. The MA connector plans, so that everyone can buy insurance, has been in effect since Romney was here..

I looked into these connector plans here, a year or so ago, considered modifying my divorce, with my exh, because, he's paying $250/week, yes week, through his employer, and a notarized agreement would suffice. He didn't go for it. I was, at that time, trying to help him, help himself, as he was complaining about it. I, edged my way, permanently onto his insurance plan, fyi, due to concerns about the future of my MS.

I was unable to price out, other states, recently, but will try again.