Should Mental Health Be Covered By Your Insurance?
In Michigan an old debate is resurfacing, as mental health advocates fight for coverage via
health insurance. But, with already outrageous premiums and healthcare costs burdening Americans at all economic levels, can we afford to include mental disorders in our coverage?
The answer becomes clear when the costs of poor mental health coverage are revealed.
Right now there is roughly 15% to 18% of the American population suffering from a mental disorder. And, 10 million of them are children who have undiagnosed and fully treatable conditions. According to the
APA Online, "During any year, 1 in 10 Americans overall experiences some disability from a mental health disorder."
And by not treating mental disorders, we are accruing very high costs. According to the American Psychological Association, 60% of employee absences were due to psychological problems.
This literally translates to millions of dollars lost in the workplace. And this is
before we look at the healthcare costs that mental health involves. Between 50% and 70% of visits to primary care physicians are for medical complaints that stem from psychological factors. By treating and preventing these ailments of the mind and body in advance, we could save astronomical sums overall.
Facts on:
Health Insurance
Did you know...
15% to 18% of the American population suffers from a mental disorder?
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But the issue is whether or not
health insurance can bear the burden of more costs. Mental health parity laws boost the cost of insurance premiums by 1% to 4% for the average family, an amount that could equal hundreds of dollars. With most families struggling to pay their health insurance premiums already, adding that additional cost could be the straw that broke the camel's back.
With insurance inflation well above what most Americans can afford, including mental health under health insurance coverage would be a noble and useful idea, but it looks like it's also going to be an idea that needs a lot of hard work and support if it will come to fruition.
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