If you manage a chronic disease, you know the work involved: tracking symptoms, navigating insurance, making it to appointments, managing medications. What doesn’t always get talked about is the emotional weight of it all.
Anxiety about the next bill. Depression when treatments don’t work. Grief over the life you planned before your diagnosis. These aren’t separate from your chronic condition, they are part of it.
The research is clear. Mental and behavioral health treatment improves physical health outcomes. Studies published in leading medical journals have documented that depression treatment improves glycemic control in people with diabetes, that mental health support reduces hospitalizations among cardiac patients, and that addressing anxiety helps people adhere to their treatment plans. When mental health goes untreated, chronic disease is harder to manage and more costly to the entire healthcare system.
For some “physical” diseases, mental health treatment is considered an essential part of the care plan. For example, our partners at the American Kidney Fund share this insight: “Living with kidney disease affects more than just your body, it can impact your mental health, including your thoughts, emotions and relationships. Whether you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), are on dialysis or have had a transplant, it's normal to face emotional challenges.” Those challenges include depression, anxiety, confusion, brain fog, and substance abuse. (Visit AKF for more information and resources.)
What mental health parity means
When we say that we support “mental health parity” that means that mental care, including substance abuse care, is treated the same as any other medical issue. Your insurance plan should cover diagnostic tests, providers, medication, follow up care and more– just like they would for something like surgery.
The 2008 federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was supposed to fix this. It made it the law that insurers are required to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment on equal terms with medical and surgical care.
Now, the situation is getting worse, not better.
FierceHealthcare reports: “The new Mental Health Parity Index identifies disparities in 43 states in terms of access to in-network mental health and substance abuse treatment in comparison to physical health. The analysis found that patients in seven out of 10 counties face challenges in accessing in-network mental healthcare.” A 2024 federal report to Congress also found insurance companies are not complying with the law.
We’re asking you to take action.
Right now, you can send a letter to your state and federal elected officials asking them to:
- Uphold and enforce the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
- Oppose any rollback of updated parity regulations
- Require fair prior authorization standards for mental health care
- Protect Medicare and Medicaid enrollees’ access to mental healthcare
- Recognize mental health treatment as a core component of chronic disease care
You can also share your story with us, and we’ll share it with decision-makers.
- Share your story about how mental health affects your ability to manage your chronic condition.
- Join the Coalition’s advocacy network to stay informed and engaged on policies that affect patients like you.
- Join us as Ambassador and get more actively involved in advocating for care.
Chronic disease and mental health are not separate problems. For millions of Americans, they are the same daily reality. When we fight for mental health parity, we fight for the whole patient.
Want to learn more?
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