On August 21, health care providers, mental health advocates, and individuals who have experienced mental illness attended a special White House briefing on how the Affordable Care Act expands access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits.- In a few weeks, individuals and families will be able learn and shop for affordable health coverage options through the Health Insurance Marketplace at HealthCare.gov. The providers, mental health advocates and other participants at the briefing learned what they can do to help people enroll in the Marketplace beginning October 1, for coverage starting as early as January 1, 2014.
Sign up now for information and updates about the Marketplace.
Learn more about the Affordable Care Act.
- The Affordable Care Act, which builds on the Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity Act, expands mental health and substance use disorder benefits and federal parity protections for 62 million Americans. That’s one of the largest expansions in behavioral health coverage in a generation.
- Because of the health care law, most health plans must now cover preventive services like depression screenings for adults and behavioral assessments for children at no additional cost.
- Because of the Affordable Care Act, beginning in 2014, insurance companies will not be able to deny coverage or charge more because of pre-existing mental health conditions or other pre-existing conditions.
- Thanks to the Affordable Care Act and federal parity protections, recovery is within reach for more Americans.
Learn more at www.mentalhealth.gov