The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law has released a report on effective outreach and health care coverage enrollment strategies for people with serious mental illnesses. Making the Connection: Meeting Requirements to Enroll People with Mental Illnesses in Healthcare Coverage explains how these strategies help people with mental illness get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Historically, substantial numbers of people with serious mental illnesses lacked healthcare coverage. Many are too impoverished to access the services they need and have been at high risk of homelessness, incarceration and hospitalization for physical and mental health needs. New health care coverage opportunities in the ACA, such as the Medicaid expansion and private coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplaces, can dramatically change this scenario for people, as well as lowering costs incurred by state and local governments. This will happen only if individuals are able to enroll. There are barriers that make it challenging for people with serious mental illnesses to enroll. Taking steps to maximize enrollment not only enables individuals and states to benefit from the ACA's healthcare options, it also helps states comply with the legal requirements of the American with Disabilities Act and the health care reform law.
The ACA presents a tremendous opportunity for people with serious mental illnesses who until now have not qualified for health insurance to finally secure coverage for the community services they need to be successful. States can use the strategies outlined in Making the Connection to help.