Does the Health Reform "Law" include mental health parity?

[dawg]

Yeah, I know I could google it, but there is so much crap out there to wade through I still would not be sure of the answer. I wondered if someone on here might already know. My insurance routinely denies my child's psychiatrist visits, even though he has a developmental disorder. I am hoping that will now stop.

[Deep13]

1. My understanding is that was made law last year. nt

[annabanana]

2. According to Patrick Kennedy, it does

A key aspect of this legislation that is of particular importance to me is the extension of the mental health parity protections established into law last year by my legislation, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Not only are these protections extended to all plans in the Exchange, but mental health and substance use benefits are a part of the essential benefits package created by this legislation. For the 67 percent of adults and 80 percent of children who need mental health care that do not receive it, this victory cannot be understated.

http://www.torvex.com/jmcdaid/node/1304

[dawg]

3. Thanks, that sounds like good news.

Hopefully, BC/BS of Georgia will finally be forced to do right by my son. If not, then maybe I will be able to find affordable coverage somewhere else that will.

[ejpoeta]

4. i only know about ny state which has a law requiring insurance companies to

cover mental health at the same copay as specialists. i know this because my husband had to fight with my mental health facility (the county one funnily) to ensure they were only charging us the at the time $10 copay. they kept trying to charge me $30 copay. i have long hated the disparity regarding mental health. i have suffered from depression for years! with the changing insurances all the time we have struggled to ensure i could at least go to counseling. it was really tough while i was pregnant because i didn't want to take meds and possibly harm my baby and the counseling was critical. but i went without it for months because i couldn't afford to pay $50 a visit. i was going once a month but can now go twice a month because we are on the state insurance and will have either no copay or a very small one.