Comments on: Mental Health Coverage on Health Insurance Policies http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/03/10/mental-health-coverage-on-health-insurance-policies/ Research and discussion of the Colorado health insurance industry and the healthcare crisis in America. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:19:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Julie Lapides http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/03/10/mental-health-coverage-on-health-insurance-policies/comment-page-1/#comment-9716 Julie Lapides Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:46:47 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/03/10/mental-health-coverage-on-health-insurance-policies/#comment-9716 I think something critical has been missed here -- the health insurance companies are more than protected (unfortunately) by the fact that this new legislation only applies to companies with 50 or more employees. They now get to avoid paying for mental health on a parity with medical, for all companies under 50 employees. I'm guessing this is a significant number of lives. Insurance companies are always one-up on continuing to keep more than enough money for themselves. I think something critical has been missed here — the health insurance companies are more than protected (unfortunately) by the fact that this new legislation only applies to companies with 50 or more employees. They now get to avoid paying for mental health on a parity with medical, for all companies under 50 employees. I’m guessing this is a significant number of lives. Insurance companies are always one-up on continuing to keep more than enough money for themselves.

]]> By: Louise http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/03/10/mental-health-coverage-on-health-insurance-policies/comment-page-1/#comment-9435 Louise Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:53:51 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/03/10/mental-health-coverage-on-health-insurance-policies/#comment-9435 That could very well be the case, but I think it's interesting that health insurance companies already take a pretty strong stance when it comes to underwriting mental health issues. In general, a history of seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist for an extended period of time, and especially any inpatient mental health care, can make it much more difficult to get a policy - and that's before any legislation requiring equal coverage for mental and physical health. That could very well be the case, but I think it’s interesting that health insurance companies already take a pretty strong stance when it comes to underwriting mental health issues. In general, a history of seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist for an extended period of time, and especially any inpatient mental health care, can make it much more difficult to get a policy – and that’s before any legislation requiring equal coverage for mental and physical health.

]]> By: Affordable Health Insurance at HTQ http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/03/10/mental-health-coverage-on-health-insurance-policies/comment-page-1/#comment-9433 Affordable Health Insurance at HTQ Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:44:34 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/03/10/mental-health-coverage-on-health-insurance-policies/#comment-9433 "most of the time health insurance is footing the bill" Health insurance may very well be footing the bill but it is premium paying people who are providing the money for this bill to be footed, as you put it. “most of the time health insurance is footing the bill”

Health insurance may very well be footing the bill but it is premium paying people who are providing the money for this bill to be footed, as you put it.

]]> By: Jay http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/03/10/mental-health-coverage-on-health-insurance-policies/comment-page-1/#comment-9424 Jay Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:03:35 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/03/10/mental-health-coverage-on-health-insurance-policies/#comment-9424 One problem I see with this relating to individual health insurance is that underwriters will likely change their standards on mental health conditions. One problem I see with this relating to individual health insurance is that underwriters will likely change their standards on mental health conditions.

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