The House recently passed the Mental Health Parity Act, which would require group health insurance plans to cover mental health expenses.
The bill still has a ways to go before it becomes law. Those of us who care about health care costs should hope it doesn’t get that far.
By requiring insurers to incur higher costs, the bill will make health insurance more expensive; companies pass on their costs. This could price some people out of affording health insurance.
People who want mental health coverage in their insurance plans should be able to buy it, obviously. But those who don’t need it – or can’t afford it – should not be required by law to pay for something they do not want.
Legislators should take a step back and ask if, maybe, they are one of the reasons health care prices are so high.
Inertia Wins! 