More than 50 million people a year come face-to-face with mental illness; of this population, many are declined accessibility to healthcare coverage and, therefore, are forced to live with a chronic disability (Judd 1). Untreated, these disabilities serve as a weakness to society. In fact, about ten percent of all those incarcerated today suffer from a mental disorder (Judd 1). Some of the most common mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, can also make people have lower rates of productivity, which, from a sociological perspective, makes them less of a contribution to society as a whole and more of a strain economically. However, this societal strain could be preventable among all age groups with treatment. While mental illness is often treatable, many people cannot obtain the healthcare required to combat mental illness due to insufficient healthcare coverage. Furthermore, coverage for physical illness far overshadows the coverage provided for mental illness. The success rate in treating mental health is higher than the rate for treating heart disease; yet, insurance companies consistently cover heart-related treatment while frequently slighting mental disease (Judd 1).  To put it simply, there is a severe ethical dilemma persistent in the United States.  Why are the mentally ill fighting for coverage of their diseases while their physically-impaired counterparts are receiving full coverage, especially when mental health treatment is far more successful?  Frankly, it is disappointing to see that a large portion of America lives disabled solely due to the fact that adequate healthcare is unavailable at a decent price.  Because mental illness is so prevalent in our country, and people with untreated mental illnesses are a social and economic strain, mental health requires the same insurance coverage as physical illness.

Mental illness is one of the most common disabilities affecting people of all ages across the country; however, inadequate insurance coverage makes it difficult for members of the affected population to get treatment.  Nearly 14 million children in the United States have a treatable mental disorder, however only one third of this group receives the healthcare needed (Judd 2).  Moreover, according to a 2014 study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Sciences, one in every five adults encounters a mental health issue (“Mental Health Myths and Facts” 1). Despite how common mental illness is, there is a noticeable gap between what science has proven and what national health insurance covers. Mental illness deserves equal coverage to physical illness, because, like physical disabilities,  mental illness can be treated. Furthermore, there is a better success rate for treating mental illness than physical illness. Though efforts to correct the coverage gap have been made, these efforts have not been successful. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 made mental health and substance abuse treatment coverage a requirement for most insurance companies across the nation (Ruhl 1). However, insurance denials for mental illness are still higher than denials for physical illness due to the fact that companies have the freedom to choose what is medically necessary in regards to mental health treatment (Ruhl 1). Because there are no clear regulations for how much coverage a given mental illness should receive, mental health receives lower and unequal amounts of coverage to physical ailments. As Lewis L. Judd, chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of San Diego, says, “It is a tragedy that a country which prides itself on equality for all citizens has created a huge underclass of people who are denied access to care and therefore are relegated to lives of chronic disability simply because they have mental illness.” All people should have the right to affordable health care of all types; too many people suffer with mental disabilities simply because accessible healthcare is unavailable.
Mental illness, if left untreated, can deteriorate rather than improve society (Judd 2).  Mental illness harms society and the economy through worker absenteeism, the costs of other medical treatment for problems directly affiliated with mental health, high rates of suicide, and high rates of homelessness as a result of a mental disorder (Judd 2). Moreover, there are links between better access to mental health care and a reduction in violence. For instance, antipsychotic medication stops violent delusions caused by bipolar disorder while also stabilizing emotions and reducing the risk of manic episodes (Healy 1). Thus, mental health drugs can help to protect communities afflicted with mental illness. Access to mental health treatment is improved by making it more affordable for the troubled population and their families. In comparison, the cost of the effects of mental illness in society far overshadows the cost of affordable mental illness treatment. Mental healthcare should be accessible regardless of affiliated expenses: “The fact is that we simply cannot afford to deprive anyone of appropriate care for a mental disorder. Nor in good conscience should we tolerate any barriers to care for those with mental illness” (Judd 2).

Although mental illness does not necessarily present physical side effects, and more coverage would mean higher taxes for US citizens, science argues that mental health coverage should be equal to other health insurance coverage. Due to the large population afflicted by mental illness, accessible mental healthcare ultimately creates savings rather than extra expenses. Mental health disorders cannot be verified by lab tests, cat scans, or x-rays; as a result, many consider it to not be a “real disease”. However, the very fact that millions of people are afflicted with mental health problems every day proves it legitimacy. Additionally, the fact that talk therapy and medications, ranging from antidepressants to antipsychotics, have been proven to help patients suffering with mental illness only supports the idea that mental illness is, in fact, as real as any other physical illness.

Therefore, mental health deserves to be treated as seriously as physical health: including its coverage in insurance plans. Some people support the idea that we cannot afford to cover mental health in insurance plans as thoroughly as physical health. Limited access to coverage does not mean there will be more money saved in the economy: “It is a false economy to think that limiting coverage for treatment of mental illness, and therefore limiting access, ultimately saves money for either plans or employers” (Judd 2). Under the Affordable Care Act, the majority of the expenses to cover healthcare comes from taxes (Goodman and Wess 1). Although, more money would be taken from ordinary people to pay for mental health insurance, the expenses of higher taxes on society as a whole are cheaper than the results of untreated mental illness.  As stated before, untreated mental illness puts a strain on employers and society both socially and economically. Therefore, mental illness should receive equal coverage to physical illness in insurance policies.

In conclusion, there should be equal coverage for mental health and physical health in insurance because mental illness is as real as any physical illness, and treatment for mental health issues prevents significant social and economic strain on society. Mental illness afflicts a large percentage of people each year. If science alone is not enough to prove its defendability, the very fact that people are living disabled daily because proper healthcare is unaffordable should serve as an ethical dilemma. As a whole, treating mental illness is less costly and more efficient, which only benefits society. Therefore, accessible coverage for mental health is a necessity, not a luxury. Morally, it is wrong to not provide healthcare for fellow members of society when they are so obviously in need of treatment. It is deadly to allow society to become less efficient and more expensive. With a growing mentally ill population, society will fail if proper mental health coverage is not achieved.