California Health Insurance To Cover Autism Treatment

The California Assembly recently passed two bills intended to broaden the mental

health and health care services offered by private insurance companies. Will the bills increase California health insurance premiums?

Legislation was also approved to cover oral chemotherapy medications and mammograms irrespective of age. AB137 will require private insurers to cover mammograms based on medical need while AB1000 will require coverage for oral chemotherapy treatments.

According to Henry Perea, D-Fresno, covering oral chemotherapy treatments at the same rate that insurers cover intravenous chemotherapy would be a major relief for cancer patients. He said that many of these cancer patients had to travel long distances just to get I.V. chemo drugs even though there are pill forms of chemotherapy made available for cancer.

The legislation still needs to be submitted to the Senate for approval and signed by Governor Jerry Brown to become law. According to the supporters of the bill, this would surely be a big help for people with mental illness and substance abuse problems who couldn't afford treatment. This move would decrease the incidence of mentally ill people ending up in jail or public health care programs.

Assemblyman Jim Beall, a San Jose Democrat who authored the two bills, stated that these bills are cost-effective methods to help people who have California health insurance plans fully get the health care they need. He said, "Mental health and substance abuse are treatable, and treatment reduces incarceration, homelessness, and most importantly human suffering." Beall added that early treatment will save millions of people money.

Will California Health Insurance Plan Premiums Shoot Up?

Republican lawmakers are worried if the two bills become law. As the government had broadened the definition and scope of mental illness, people will see an increase in their premiums once the legislation is signed into law. Beall approximated that the cost of insurance premiums will increase by 6 to 61 cents per month.

Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, said, "Our insurance rates will increase because of this clandestine broadening of the coverage." For him, this bill would just encourage and legitimize drug abuse.

Opponents of the bill say that such a move is very premature and it will cost the state money in the long run. Not only that, it would increase the cost of California health insurance plans and that would add burden to those Californians who are just getting by.

Whether we will see an increase in premiums greatly depends if these bills survive the Senate. While we await the verdict, there are still ways you can decrease California health insurance premiums. You can get a high-deductible health plan and combine it with a Health Savings Account. Find out now how you can save on health care before it's too late.

by: Wiley Long

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