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WAC ADVOCACY ALERT
Volume 4, Issue 2
February 1, 2001

WASHINGTON NEEDS COMPARABLE MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS FOR ALL

In Washington, there is a serious need to address the issue of mental health coverage in health insurance plans. One-in-ten adults experience disability from a mental disorder each year. One-in-five children under the age of 18 is believed to have a diagnosable mental disorder. And in order for our children to thrive and learn, they must have strong minds as well as strong bodies. Mental health disorders are as preventable, controllable and curable as physical illnesses. While most health insurance plans offer mental health coverage, they have severe limitations and far higher cost-sharing requirements than those for physical health coverage. For example, it is not uncommon to have a 50% co-pay for mental health coverage and a limit of 10-20 outpatient visits and 10-15 inpatient days. There is also no limit to the amount of out-of-pocket expenses an individual has to pay for mental health coverage. Without health insurance that provides comparable mental health benefits, families are often unable to pay for needed services and, consequently, many children and their families do without
the treatment they need. 

We have a critical need for mental health benefits to be comparable to physical health care coverage. Failure to cover mental health
treatment at parity is a community problem that needs to be addressed.

There are 31 states in the United States that have some form of comparable mental health benefits. This issue has been gaining considerable momentum over the past 5 years as study after study continues to demonstrate that mental health parity is affordable, and that
mental health treatments are effective. Legislation to require comparable mental health benefits was first introduced in Washington in 1998. Legislation has been introduced again this year. With bi-partisan support, the House and Senate has introduced HB 1080 and SB5211
respectively.

If these bills are passed and funding for comparable mental health benefits is granted, we will reduce the need for other costly medical treatments, reduce costs for emergency care, and improve health outcomes for people with chronic conditions. Access to adequate mental
health coverage would also help to lower claims for disability, unemployment and Medicaid, as well as, improve worker productivity. And lastly, by providing mental health benefits that are affordable we can assure that middle and low-income working families have the critical
safety net that they may need. 

For more information, contact the Washington Coalition for Insurance Parity, http://www.strongminds.wego.com


TAKE FIVE

ISSUE: Families on welfare in Washington (known as the WorkFirst Program)have very limited access to education and training opportunities. Currently, you are allowed to participate in one year of vocational education, as long as you work a minimum of 20 hours per week at the same time. Going to school full-time and working 20 hours a week is a very daunting task for many single parents on welfare. However, further training and education is a critical tool to
help families move off of welfare and into living wage jobs. Because families only are allowed 60 months of welfare assistance in their lifetime, the state needs to remove the barriers that prevent parents from obtaining necessary education and training they need to transition into employment. Two bills , SB 5201 and HB 1372, would go a long way in helping families get the skills and training they need. These bills would allow welfare recipients to go to school for 2 years without an additional work activity.

This kind of opportunity is crucial to help families get off and welfare and move out of poverty.

ACTION: Contact your state Senator and Representatives.

MESSAGE: “Please support SB 5201/HB 1372, which gives parents the tools they need to move out of poverty by allowing two years of education and training under Work First without additional work requirements.”

LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE:

(800) 562-6000 

Sara Fleming Merten
Public Policy Associate
Washington Association Of Churches
419 Occidental Ave S., Ste 201
Seattle, WA 98104

(206)625-9790 (ph)
(206) 625-9791 (fax)
http://www.thewac.org