No matter the form, discrimination is wrong. Yet, nearly 98% of private health insurance plans discriminate against patients seeking treatment for mental illness by requiring higher copayments, allowing fewer doctor visits or days in the hospital, or higher deductibles than imposed on other medical illnesses. This discrimination results from outdated misconceptions and the stigma surrounding mental illnesses. If left to continue, the financial and human costs of untreated mental illness will far exceed the costs purported by opponents -- that covering mental health services will exponentially and unfairly increase premiums for all enrollees. In fact, data have shown that instituting equal coverage for treatment of mental illnesses will results in lower total health care costs.

Thirty-one states (and counting) have passed a law calling for Parity for mental illness treatment. New York State has not. The Assembly passed a law calling for full parity for all insurance plan types. The New York State Senate is considering a similar bill, but it is more limited. However, even the Senate bill would significantly improve access to medically necessary mental health treatment in New York State.

Treatments for mental illnesses have high success rates. According to a report by the National Advisory Mental Health Council, the successful treatment for schizophrenia is at 60%; depression, 70-80%; and panic disorder, 70-90%. For two specific heart disease treatments, that rate is 45-50% overall.¹

If you or someone you care about has a mental illness, and you would like to write your New York State Senator asking him/her to support mental health parity, click here for a form letter (you'll have to use your browser's back button to get back to this page).

If you are a mental health provider and you would like to write your New York State Senator asking him/her to support mental health parity, click here for a second form letter (you'll have to use your browser's back button to get back to this page).

¹National Advisory Mental Health Council: Parity in Coverage of Mental Health Services in an Era of Managed Care. Rockville, MD, US Department of Health and Human Services, 1997