Posted by mair on July 6, 2004, at 21:38:17
In reply to Re: Mental Health Insurance parity...what can you do? » mair, posted by tabitha on July 6, 2004, at 19:34:07
Tabitha - I work in a pretty small office, and I fit more closely into the category of boss than employee. But it was hard because we had a couple of insurance brokers really trying to sell us on saving a bunch of money by switching to this other plan and EVERYTHING was better with the other plan except the mental health benefits. And I'd sit in these meetings where these people would talk in very specific terms about how there was no reason not to switch and save a ton of $$ unless someone was using the mental health benefits. There was only coverage if you used one of their providers comprised of some pretty underwelming therapists. I've just made too much of a commitment to this process with my own T to even think about going elsewhere.
I hated having to go to one of my colleagues to urge him not to support the switch, but I really had no choice and of course then each of the brokers we dealt with knew exactly why the switch wasn't made.
I am woefully underpaid for my background, education, skills, length of employment etc etc etc. I've allowed this to persist mostly because I've been so down on myself for so long that the prospect of advocating for myself is seems too daunting, and I can't imagine getting it together to change my employment. I've been trying to build myself up to forcing the issue of my compensation, but the whole deal with the insurance set me back in that process because I know, although no one would probably say it, that my colleagues probably would argue that I shouldn't get a raise because of the excess costs of this policy.
I also know what you mean about not looking at therapy as medical treatment. I have the same hang-up and I'm sure the insurance companies want all of us to think that way. It's not like I couldn't survive without therapy.
mair
poster:mair
thread:362407
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040703/msgs/363602.html