Mental Health Insurance

Should mental health benefits equal medical benefits?

Introduction

More than 30 million Americans suffer from schizophrenia, severe depression and other mental disorders. Several years ago, Tipper Gore revealed her struggles with depression. Now, recent events such as the murder trial of Andrea Yates, who drowned her five children, and the Oscar-winning movie “A Beautiful Mind” are again raising the public's awareness of mental illness. Historically, employers' insurance has paid much lower treatment benefits for mental problems than for medical illness. Congress is considering broadening the federal law requiring equal treatment — or “parity” — in health insurance. But conservative lawmakers and business lobbies claim the cost of parity is too high.

Tipper Gore, wife of former Vice President Al Gore, has been a tireless advocate for equal insurance coverage for mental and physical ailments. ...

locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles