This article talks about how the ACA requires insurers to cover mental health care just as they do with physical health care, but only half of psychiatrists accept health insurance. That means that many of the people seeking treatment for their mental health problems are having to pay for it entirely out of their pockets, and according to the National Institute of Mental Health, about one of five adult Americans, or about 58 million people, suffer from a diagnosable mental illness in a given year. Jamison Monroe of Newport Academy, a mental health and addiction facility for people ages 12 to 20 in Connecticut and California, said "Sole practitioners don't have any recourse. That's why they only take cash". But it is said that this problem may spark a better understanding of mental health and help break down the stigma for brain-chemistry diseases such as depression, schizophrenia, or PTSD.
The issue of mental health is definitely growing in awareness and it is important that these people who seek help and treatment are able to afford it. Mental health care is just as important as physical health care and we need to solve this void in the system so that we can insure them equally. It's great that the ACA requires insurers to cover mental health care, we are definitely on the right track. Now we (with the help of our federal government) need to come up with a system that will successfully enable all psychiatrists to accept health insurance. There isn't really a good solution yet with so many factors to take into account. But it should certainly be added to the list of things that need improvement. Hopefully our federal government takes a good look into this issue sooner than later.
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