Copyright 1999 The New York Times Company
The New
York Times
June 19, 1999, Saturday, Late Edition - Final
SECTION: Section A; Page 14; Column
4; Editorial Desk
LENGTH: 138 words
HEADLINE: When More Medicine Saves Money;
Don't
Place Blame
BODY:
To the Editor:
In
light of the fact that many expensive medical treatments are covered under
current health insurance policies, the argument that there
should not be insurance parity for mental
illnesses is unpersuasive (Op-Ed, June 15). People who engage in behaviors that
are known to cause heart disease (for instance, a high cholesterol diet) are
covered for angioplasties, open heart surgery and expensive drugs. Victims of
trauma are covered for their injuries, even when they are responsible for
causing the injuries, as in drunken driving. Why should mental health care not
be fully covered? Mental disorders are not failures of willpower or moral
character but real diseases. Moreover, these diseases are treatable and not
necessarily through years of analysis.
KELLY PERL
New York,
June 16, 1999
http://www.nytimes.com
LOAD-DATE: June 19, 1999 
