California lawmakers are considering a measure that would require health plans to provide the same level of care for mental health disorders as physical ones. Currently, insurers only have to cover severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia. KPBS reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.
An estimated one in four Americans suffers from short-term mental disorders like mild depression. Yet many insurers either won’t cover such conditions, or they place strict limits on treatments. The pending assembly bill would require plans to cover mental disorders under the same restrictions applied to physical conditions.
Bettie Reinhardt directs the San Diego chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Reinhardt : Mental illness is an illness like any other. There really is not a major barrier at the neck line between the brain and the rest of the body.
But Reinhardt is concerned the bill mandates coverage for so many conditions, it could force insurance companies to raise premiums.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
