A little discussed and HUGE benefit of Obamacare:

[pnwmom]

People with serious mental illnesses are some of the least likely to be able to hold down jobs that have given them decent health insurance, and even employer policies often don't give parity for mental health benefits. NO MORE!! The new regulations on mental health parity will apply both to individual and to group (employer) policies. (Medicaid is already covered under previous regulations.)

Thank you, Obamacare. It's about time. Now it's time to fix Medicare so they get parity, too.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/us/politics/rules-to-require-equal-coverage-for-mental-ills.html?hp&_r=0


While laws and regulations dating to 1996 took initial steps in requiring insurance parity for medical and mental health, “here we’re doing full parity, and we’ve also taken steps to extend it to the people covered in the Affordable Care Act,” the senior official said. “This is kind of the final word on parity.”

SNIP

According to administration officials, the rule would ensure that health plans’ co-payments, deductibles and limits on visits to health care providers are not more restrictive or less generous for mental health benefits than for medical and surgical benefits. Significantly, the regulations would clarify how parity applies to residential treatments and outpatient services, where much of the care for people with addictions or mental illnesses occurs.

Any geographic or facility-type limitations would have to be comparable for medical and mental health benefits. For example, an administration official said, an insurer “can’t say you can only get substance-abuse treatment in state but you can go anywhere for medical/surgical.”

The regulations, which specifically put into effect the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, would affect most Americans with insurance — roughly 85 percent of the population — whether their policies are from employer plans, other group plans, or coverage purchased in the market for individual plans.

SNIP

[Hekate]

1. 5th Rec. Thanks for bringing this here pnwmom. nt

[Left Coast2020]

2. Well thats good to know.

I may be in need of it after I get out of my t-bagger landlord's house. Seriously, this f-ing freak lady is making me mentally unstable.

And if you see me post that t-baggers are stupid, I mean it. 100% pure ignorance and stupidity. I see it first hand on daily basis.

But the down side, I'm told no dental coverage until next year. Thats what I really need. Oh, well 1 root canal, 2-3 fillings, and 1 possible extraction.

Really would like to keep some teeth.

[pnwmom]

3. I agree. Teeth are important and there's no reason

they shouldn't be covered the same way any medical condition is. Totally unfair.

[SunSeeker]

4. K & R

[Paper Roses]

5. Wish Dental was covered under Medicare too.

I am told I will need 3 crowns soon. No way I can afford that. At $1500.00 a tooth, I'm just not in a position to pay.
The same applies to the rest of us living on fixed or low incomes.
I have always taken care of my teeth but these past few years have been stressful and my doctor has told me I grit by teeth and clench my jaw during sleep. It had caused 3 teeth to crack.

Fun looking forward to coping with this.

Never could understand why Dental care was not included in Medicare in the first place.

[pnwmom]

6. I don't understand either, since teeth are so important to good health.

Are you by any chance near a dental school? I knew someone who was satisfied with the work she got done at the one connected with our state U.

[Paper Roses]

14. Yes, there is a dental school not far away.

I went to their web sire to read about the programs and list what type of work they are accepting at the moment.
So far, no Caps.
My dentist said I could wait a short while before I need the work done so I will keep looking at the site to see if things change.

[otherone]

7. There will still be "specialist" co-pays for therapy. In my case that is $50.00 per visit

I can now go as often as I like but in reality I can only go as often as I can afford to go.

[pnwmom]

8. True. But for many people now there are no mental health benefits.

At all. A fifty dollar copay is a lot more feasible than $150 - $250 out of pocket.

[otherone]

9. So true.

Good morning and thanks for this OP.
Have a great day.

[pnwmom]

10. Good luck with this -- I know $50 dollars isn't nothing,

but I'm glad they're finally treating mental illness like any other.

[otherone]

11. Thank you

I tucked the full $2500 away in my health care FSA so I should be able to afford monthly visits.

[pnwmom]

12. Good. I have an ex-in-law who will finally be able to get treatment, too. n/t

[Nine]

13. I wonder how right-wing NRA supporters will respond to this.

The NRA has suggested better mental health care as a way to decrease gun violence. While I strongly disagree that this should be a substitute for sensible gun regulation, they are actually correct that mental health in this country has been neglected. But I'll bet some of the same ones who pushed the NRA mental health talking point will be conspicuously silent on praising ACA for accomplishing just that.