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Health Insurance Plans to Cover Mental Illness

February 4, 2002
By: Sonya Harper and Danielle Douglas
State Capital Bureau

Missouri could adopt a new law that would make it mandatory for health insurance plans to include coverage for mental illnesses.

On Monday evening the House Critical Issues, Consumer Protection and Housing Committee heard testimony in favor of including mental health coverage as a part of regular insurance plans.

Actuality:WILSON1
RunTime: 13
OutCue: "under our insurance laws."
FILL: Wilson says that mental illness is just like any other illness and should thus be treated as such and covered in health insurance plans.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Vicky Riback Wilson, also said this bill would save a lot of taxpayer money, which is used for treating people with mental illnesses.

Patients would benefit from this bill because they wouldn't have to seek out and pay for private mental health providers. Also, it would only be a 30-cent to $1 increase of their premium per month to include mental health coverage in their plan.

The House will vote on the bill Wednesday.