One More Blow Against Stigma and Penury

Posted on March 29, 2006 in Class Stigma

This takes the guilt off my shoulders, but will employers realize that the costs are practical? (Methinks they want to get rid of all insurance if they could and the Republican Congress might just be on the road to doing just that.)

Researchers found that, contrary to the predictions of some policymakers and analysts, the use and cost of such services did not increase, compared with the experience of private health plans with less generous mental health benefits — provided that new benefits were offered under managed-care plans. The changes did, however, mean lower out-of-pocket expenses for people who used the services under the federal plans.

“These results are important, because it means that it is affordable for all of us who have health insurance to have better protection in the event that we might need to use mental health or substance abuse services,” said Howard H. Goldman, the lead researcher and professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

And if you were wondering why your psychiatrist only lets you see him for ten minutes….