October 8, 2016
Nearly one in 25 adults experiences a serious mental illness that interferes with major life activities each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. If you’re among them, you might be worried about whether health insurance covers therapy or other treatments. Gratefully, health insurance increasingly covers mental health as well, which, according to MentalHealth.gov, includes psychological, social, and emotional well-being at all stages of life. Recognizing that good mental health is as important as physical wellness, federal law has greatly expanded insurance coverage for mental illnesses.
Mental disorders can lead to poor decisions that cause physical health problems, such as obesity or drug-use disorders, says Sabra Matovsky, Executive Vice President of Integrated Health Partners, a nonprofit organization that represents community-based medical centers.
“There are a lot of people who die in this country from behavioral choices: eating, drugs, lack of exercise,” Matovsky says. “Mental health treatment can help people make better choices.”