Mental Health Parity Act Flashcards, test questions and answers
Discover flashcards, test exam answers, and assignments to help you learn more about Mental Health Parity Act and other subjects. Don’t miss the chance to use them for more effective college education. Use our database of questions and answers on Mental Health Parity Act and get quick solutions for your test.
What is Mental Health Parity Act?
The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 was a landmark piece of legislation that sought to address the inequality in healthcare for individuals suffering from mental illness. Prior to this law, there were no laws in place that required insurance companies to treat mental health care on the same terms as physical health care. This meant that many people with mental illness would be denied coverage or be forced to pay much higher out-of-pocket costs for treatment than those without such conditions. The Mental Health Parity Act changed all of this by requiring insurance companies to offer mental health benefits on par with medical and surgical benefits, ensuring that individuals with mental illness would no longer face discrimination when seeking out health care coverage.The Mental Health Parity Act has had far-reaching implications for individuals suffering from mental illnesses. It has allowed many more people access to treatments and therapies they may not have previously been able to afford. Additionally, it has helped reduce stigma surrounding mental illness as well as the discrimination associated with it by making access to necessary treatments more equitable across all segments of society. Finally, this law has also allowed employers and insurers more flexibility in providing coverage for employees suffering from a wide variety of mental illnesses without fear of liability or financial loss due to expensive treatments. Despite its positive impact, some critics have argued that the Mental Health Parity Act does not go far enough in protecting those who suffer from a severe form of depression or other serious psychological conditions; some argue that these individuals should receive additional protections under the law because their treatment requires significantly more resources than someone with an anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While these criticisms are valid, there is still much work left to be done before true parity is achieved between physical and mental healthcare coverage options available today; however, the passage of this act was an important step towards achieving greater equality between those seeking treatment for both physical and psychological issues alike.