Bipolar Today

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Many American states have what are called “parity acts”. These states mandate that a certain amount of health coverage be provided for mental illness, so as to create parity with non-mental health illnesses. Though these laws are in place in many states, it can sometimes be hard to ensure that they are enforced. On Friday, the Ninth Circuit Court ruled that Jeanene Harlick, who had Arorexia Nervosa, should be paid for her time in a treatment facility that she entered when she was at 65% of her ideal weight. This decision potentially widens the scope of mental health coverage in the United States. If you are interested in the full case, it can be read here, and if you are interested an article about the decision, you can read it here.

Commentary

In a way, this decision doesn’t set a huge precedent. After all, the courts basically decided ordered the insurance company to follow the law. However, it shows the willingness of the courts to evaluate the breadth of what constitutes mental health. This could, in the long run, expand what kinds of mental illnesses are covered in states that have more limited parity acts. If you are interested in exploring whether or not your state has a parity act, this document has a state-by-state listing of which parity acts are in place.

Overall, it is good to see the courts going this way. Mental illness is an illness, but many insurance companies have for years not insured it properly, and group plans have ignored it. This is discriminatory, and it is good to see the situation changing.

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