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ProSense

(116,464 posts)
Thu Feb 21, 2013, 11:04 AM Feb 2013

New Federal Rule Requires Insurers to Offer Mental Health Coverage

New Federal Rule Requires Insurers to Offer Mental Health Coverage

By ROBERT PEAR

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration issued a final rule on Wednesday defining “essential health benefits” that must be offered by most health insurance plans next year, and it said that 32 million people would gain access to coverage of mental health care as a result.

The federal rule requires insurers to cover treatment of mental illnesses, behavioral disorders, drug addiction and alcohol abuse, and other conditions.

Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, said that in addition to the millions who would gain access to mental health care, 30 million people who already have some mental health coverage will see improvements in benefits.

White House officials described the rule as a major expansion of coverage. In the past, they said, nearly 20 percent of people buying insurance on their own did not have coverage for mental health services, and nearly one-third had no coverage for treatment of substance abuse.

- more -

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/21/health/new-federal-rule-requires-insurers-to-offer-mental-health-coverage.html



4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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New Federal Rule Requires Insurers to Offer Mental Health Coverage (Original Post) ProSense Feb 2013 OP
Another: Here’s one way Obamacare changed today ProSense Feb 2013 #1
What would help would be mandatory mental health screenings for adolescents & teens SoCalDem Feb 2013 #2
Kick! n/t ProSense Feb 2013 #3
well, I should think so... it's about time renate Feb 2013 #4

SoCalDem

(103,856 posts)
2. What would help would be mandatory mental health screenings for adolescents & teens
Thu Feb 21, 2013, 11:32 AM
Feb 2013

to try & catch an impending meltdown and to give them a safe place to vent their fears & worries.

If everyone had to undergo this screening, it would be seen as normal and not punitive.

renate

(13,776 posts)
4. well, I should think so... it's about time
Thu Feb 21, 2013, 04:22 PM
Feb 2013

It's ridiculous that the brain isn't covered by health insurance just like a kidney or heart is.

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