Adequate care doesn't sound good

"More than 26 percent of American adults have a diagnosable mental health disorder, but of those, only 33 percent are receiving care, according to data from the National Institute of Mental Health. And of that number, one-third is receiving treatment that is considered only minimally adequate." (Emphasis mine.)

I am really horrible at math, but if 1/3 of people with mental illness are receiving care, and only 1/3 of that number is getting care that meets the "adequate" standard, then we have a huge problem here. That's a lot of people without any care, and lots of people getting substandard care.

I wonder how we compare to other countries. According to @Skypilotofhope Canada spends 5% of the GDP on mental health, while European countries spend 14%. I can't find any good numbers for what the U.S. spends, but I'm sure it's close to nothing. Just try and go out and get mental health care here. It's impossible if you don't have the money for it. Therapy for me is $30 a week, and that's the rate for unemployed people. Most people don't have the luxury of spending that much.

And meds. Meds! We already had this discussion, but I'll say it again: $967 for 3 months of three drugs is still insane. I can not afford that. No one can, unless you're wracking up credit card debt to pay for sanity. And that was the price of drugs shipped from Canada. You don't even want to know what the local pharmacy was trying to charge me.

There's just no way to get mental health coverage in this country without having health insurance, and they don't have to cover you if you have a pre-existing condition. So where are you then? You're here in the boat with me. taking the meds that have the most side effects but are at a reduced cost ($300 for 3 months). You're seeking out nonprofit assistance for therapy and getting seen by therapists in training because they're cheaper. You're fighting tooth and nail not to have to be hospitalized, because that just wouldn't be financially possible.

What a mess.

Mental health parody

Dear Congress,

Ok, first, thank you for voting in the mental health parity laws. I'm very happy that insurers have to provide coverage equal to physical coverage, and at the same rate. But there are some things you missed.

No one HAS TO offer mental health coverage. They can just avoid it right there. Sure, maybe in 2014 something will happen, but that's really not helpful. It doesn't cover individual policies or small businesses. I understand that for small businesses it would mean no one gets health insurance, so good compromise, there. But for all of us who don't get coverage through our employer, or qualify (yet) for high-risk pools, or better yet, WANT to be taking out meds instead of using up emergency beds, what do we do? How do we get coverage?

Do you know how much meds cost on their own? Thousands of dollars. I'm not exaggerating. One month of one of my meds cost me $1,000. Or would cost me, if I had that kind of money to throw around. And I'm on three meds. Which, with the current state of the economy and my current unemployment means I'm off meds for the first time in 6 years. And I don't WANT to be non-compliant. I want to be a productive member of society. Instead, because no health insurance company will cover me, I have to pay out of pocket for medication, and I can't.

Thanks for making health care for all.

"Q: Since the law does not apply to individual policies, what advice do you offer those patients and families seeking care right now?

A: It's not so bright for the next four years. Everyone I've gotten calls from in the individual market who wants to go to a high-risk pool … well, you have to be uninsured for six months [to qualify]. In all fairness, I think the pools great and they have enormous potential. There's a reason for [the waiting period]. … And the high risk pool requirements won't change between now and 2014. For a lot of people, they will have to wait."