Mental health coverage to benefit under health care act, advocates say

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/mental-health-coverage-to-benefit-under-health-care-2434987.html

By Andrea Ball Updated: 11:23 a.m. Monday, Aug. 13, 2012

Published: 7:53 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012

Private insurance has saved Barbara Vinson thousands of dollars on her son's mental health care.

Since 2010, her carrier has paid more than $18,000 for her son Michael's inpatient treatment and psychiatric drugs for bipolar disorder.

Now, due to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Michael, 24, will be able to stay on that insurance until he's 26.

"You are born with this biological disease, and it's like diabetes," said Vinson, a teacher at Westlake High School. "You have to deal with it your whole life."

The U.S. Supreme Court in June upheld most of the Affordable Care Act, the federal health care overhaul aimed primarily at decreasing the number of uninsured Americans and reducing the cost of health care. While much of the attention has focused on physical health care, mental health advocates say the legislation is a victory for people with psychiatric disorders.