Does medical insurance cover treatment?
A. Insurance policies vary greatly, but most private insurance and health maintenance organization (HMO) plans contain some mental health benefits. Unfortunately, many plans do not provide equal treatment for physical and mental illnesses. Contact your health insurance provider for details on your coverage for treatment of mental illnesses. Q. When I compare my mental health coverage to my physical health coverage, what should I look for A. Most often the disparity between mental and physical health coverage occurs in three areas: arbitrary limits on inpatient and outpatient visits; discriminatory copayments limiting affordability of care; and low lifetime and annual caps for people with mental illnesses. These limits often do not provide for enough treatment for people who need long-term care. Q. Have any states moved to end the disparity between mental and physical health care coverage? A. Yes, five states — Maryland, Minnesota, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island — have passed ‘
