I No Longer have Mental Health Coverage Within 150 miles
I gave birth to my son in 1994. I was 16 years old. His father was a crack dealer. I never did drugs in my life but I loved him and believed I could change him.
He was young too, 19 years old. I was raised poor and now at 37 year old, I am truly grateful for every experience in my life, I would not change anything. Needless to say… my son’s father ended up in prison, I was left to raised this boy alone.
Anyways, I do NOT want sympathy, I do NOT need it!
I have been happily married to the love of my life for 15 years. He loves and has loved my son since he laid eyes on him when he was 11 months old.
My husband, son and I have been together for just over 19 years now. My husband and I have 3 other children.
I completed high school when my oldest son was 2 and went on to college.
I completed college in 2005 with my Doctor of Pharmacy. I have had a great life. My oldest son still experiences issues associated with his birth father and his family.
My oldest son had substance abuse problems which his father (my husband) and I helped him with. We got him into a residential treatment program. My son tells us how he was grateful for that. He has been clean for a year now. He was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder by his psychiatrist.
However, since our insurance coverage which I have carried for over the past 10 years, no longer has mental health coverage in our area “Lawton, Oklahoma”… we are not eligible for Family and Marriage counseling.
I cannot express how vital this is to our family!!!! I have never asked for hand outs…NEVER! I have worked HARD for my ever loving life!
My oldest son is 20 and in college, which I pay for, and my baby is 16 months old. I have enough going on in my life. The fact that I must now travel over 150 miles to see or take my son to counseling is not acceptable to me.
My husband and I pay well over $30,000 every year to the United States government… why must I now have to travel, take time off work, my son take time out of school and all the other inconveniences just to get the care we have always had right here at home? Simple question.
Kay
You do not have insurance coverage for marriage and family counseling NOT because of “obamacare” but because insurance companies have decided to not cover it, as it is not a condition that requires ‘medically necessary counseling’ such as for depression, anxiety and the like. If you don’t have a providers in your area, it has nothing to do with obamacare. If anything, Obamacare has created parity between care for physical ailments and mental health ailments alike, including addiction treatment.
AJS
To KAY: Did you not read the first line of the FACT above???
Obamacare IS squarely to blame for this woman not being able to get “mental health” care in her area. She stated “Family and Marriage” counseling, but I think she misspoke, because she also stated her son being diagnosed as “bipolar”, which IS a mental health condition and SHOULD be covered by the Mandate in Obamacare, under it’s “10 Essential Health Benefits”. The reason there is no one within 150 miles of her is because these “Obamacare Exchange” plans are LIMITING the number of providers and the providers they do contract with are typically not the “cream of the crop” or are so far away, the consumer can’t use the benefits they are paying for and according to Obama, are ENTITLED to, but really, not so much!
See below for the ESSENTIAL benefit under Obamacare for Mental Health. It’s there, if you can find a doctor or therapist.
5. Mental health services and addiction treatment. Inpatient and outpatient care provided to evaluate, diagnose and treat a mental health condition or substance abuse disorder . This includes behavioral health treatment, counseling, and psychotherapy. (note: some plans may limit coverage to 20 days each year. Limits must comply with state or federal parity laws. Read this document for more information on mental health benefits and the Affordable Care Act).
ObamaCareFacts.com
Smart answer, however, we would argue that the insurer is to blame more than the law itself. They are the ones who aren’t including a viable mental health specialist in their network. Certainly is a problem with the cheapest of exchange plans in rural towns.
ObamaCareFacts.com
Sorry to hear this.
This is why ObamaCare focuses on making sure that mental health and addiction treatment are mandatory covered benefits on all plans.
This is also why limited networks, especially in some rural areas, can lead to underwhelming access to care. This is a problem that needs to continually be addressed.