Because Choice is Bad

New law equalizes mental health insurance coverage

The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act used the $700 billion economic rescue package to gain enough votes. Along with financial rescue came federally mandated insurance equality for people with mental illness.

"Finally it's being recognized," said Pat Schwartzhoff of Rochester, who has experienced depression and talks at school assemblies about mental illness. The bill passed in October and was signed into law by Pres. George W. Bush.

The mental-health equality portion of the bill is just as significant for many people as the Americans with Disabilities Act, which in 1990 banned discrimination against people with disabilities.

Mental illness insurance coverage must now equal coverage for physical illness.

So tell me, do you think this will make health insurance cheaper, or more expensive? This is government regulation raising costs for everybody, to benefit a small percentage of the population.

This is also inappropriate for an inclusion in a mortgage bailout.

I love it when politicians make economic policy by consulting a Ouija board instead of an economist or historian.