Individuals with brain disorders often cannot obtain adequate health insurance coverage. Typically, hospitalization is unlimited for other physical disorders, while it is limited to 30 to 60 days for a brain disorder. In terms of outpatient treatment, visits are unlimited for other physical conditions, while visits for brain disorders are often limited to 20 times per year. Individuals who experience first episodes of brain disorders during adolescence could easily spend their lifetime benefits before reaching adulthood. This discrimination and increased financial burden often prevent people with brain disorders from getting the treatment they need, even though this treatment is often more effective than treatment for other medical illnesses.
Discrimination also results in dumping people into the public sector, paid for by taxpayers.
Many companies that self-insure have seen the economic benefits for years. In states with parity for brain disorders, the cost have been minimal. In Rhode Island, the increased premium costs were just 30 cents per person each month. Premature deaths would be averted, restoring lost lifetime earnings to the economy. There would also be a ten percent reduction of general medical care for people with brain disorders.