Your Insurance Coverage Must Now Provide Mental Health Care.

Final Ruling on Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

November 8, 2013-Today, the final ruling was to increase the parity between mental health/substance use disorder benefits and medical/surgical benefits.

This means that, for the first time, your insurance benefits must provide equal mental health benefits and physical health benefits.

The initial legislation was passed in 2008, and in interim final rule was passed in 2010. However, insurance companies attempt at complying with these was to add on red tape, fail to provide enough physicians in-network, drag their feet to delay patient requests, and created vague medical necessity standards that allowed them to deny patients to have proper mental health care.

Today marks the end of discrimination against those with mental illness being able to have access to proper health care.

After today, you must have equal deductibles, co-pays, and visit limits  for mental health care and addiction treatment as for any other medical or surgical healthcare.

The day has finally come… Cheers to Your Mental Health!

By Dr. Terra Caudill