It also causes enormous hardship to many American families. This amendment eliminates arbitrary day and visit limits and discriminatory cost sharing requirements with respect to mental illness in private health insurance coverage. It prohibits entirely arbitrary narrow restrictions on treatment for some health restrictions which are applied to other conditions. Over the past several years there has been a sweeping change in the way companies and insurance plans cover health care, including mental health care. More companies are moving to install flexible benefit packages which manage metal health care without the use of obsolete barriers to needed care.
Firms encourage employees to seek treatment as soon as possible because it makes economic sense.
Companies that have shifted to managing their benefit through flexible plans without arbitrary limits have achieved significant savings. Contrary to what insurance companies argue, employers save money by focusing on care that is effective for conditions that need treatment. On the other hand, failing to appropriately treat mental illness imposing significant cost on American business. The public has also supported coverage of mental health care equivalent to coverage for other conditions. For these reasons, we urge your support of the mental health parity amendment.