Question: Why is there not mental health parity across the board with physical health nationally and state-wide?
From: April C-W. of Bradenton, FL

Answer: You are bringing up a point that has no doubt been a point of contention for some time. You are correct in that some health plans cover mental health conditions differently than medical and surgical conditions. I doubt I could satisfactorily explain why that is but action to amend this has started and continues. In 1996, the Mental Health Parity law was passed to provide parity but only for annual and lifetime limits between mental health coverage and medical and surgical coverage. There are hopes to expand parity under this law to include deductibles, co-payments, out-of-pocket expenses, coinsurance, covered hospital days, and covered outpatient visits. Legislatures will most likely continue to amend and clarify this law for many years and the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives are also working to eliminate this disparity.