
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 12, 1991                   TAG: 9103120418
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HEALTH CARE FOR MENTALL ILL NOT FULLY INSURED

DISCRIMINATION against a segment of our society by health-care insurers is standard practice. An illness that not only affects the victim, but has a great impact on the family as well, is still not given equal importance by insurers.

The reason, of course, is economic, since mental illness can be expensive to treat. The insurers get by with this probably because many people with this illness either can't speak up for themselves or will not because of archaic social stigmas.

In one Blue Cross-Blue Shield plan, outpatient physician visits are paid at 80 percent by the insurer. An exception is made for outpatient psychiatric care; only 50 percent is paid. Psychiatric hospital stays are limited to 30 days per year. There is no such limit for "physical" illnesses.

There is also a $1,000-per-year maximum paid for outpatient psychiatric care, but there is no such limit for "regular" illnesses. Patients have a $750 cap on out-of-pocket medical expenses, except for psychiatric care. Medicare has similar practices, amounting to discrimination by our own federal government.

Mental illness is treatable through psychotherapy and medication to correct chemical imbalances of the brain. This illness is a lonely, frightening and devastating experience, made worse by economic hardships in a system that deprives people of equal treatment. Our society would benefit by keeping all its citizens as healthy as possible, whatever the illness.

Writing to federal and state legislators to protest this discrimination could possibly help your neighbor, a close friend or relative. ANN OSBORNE ROANOKE

by CNB