President Obama signed into law comprehensive health-care reform.
Reading the material from the various mental health journals and commentaries I can suggest some of the meaningful changes relating to our work at the Lake Mary Counseling Center.
Coverage For All Includes Mental Health
Virtually all Americans will have comprehensive health insurance coverage that includes coverage for treatment of mental illness including substance use disorders.
The provision that individuals may not be excluded due to pre-existing conditions or dropped because of their health status will also pertain to theses condition. Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders benefits must be offered at “parity” with other medical and surgical benefits for all insurance plans sold within the health insurance exchanges that are created under the new law.
There will be no annual limit or life time limits. Private insurance costs will be subsidized for those with lower incomes.
This has to be a colossal step forward for a progressive society.
"Ask Howard" Blog
Does Money Make People Happy?
It's a mystery why money doesn't make us happy, because it feels like it damn well should.
With money we can buy whatever we want, go wherever we want, even be whoever we want. Surely that should make us happy?
And yet study after study shows that being affluent might bring satisfaction, but it doesn't bring much happiness.
Perhaps, as people become really rich, they don't choose more enjoyable activities (i.e. they stay in the office working)? Perhaps material goods just can't make us happy?
Or perhaps there is always someone richer, spoiling the party with their more impressive wealth?
There's something missing from these accounts, though, and it's the old argument that when you live in luxurious surroundings, have experienced the best restaurants and received the most lavish gifts, it becomes more difficult to savor the simple things in life.
With money we can buy whatever we want, go wherever we want, even be whoever we want. Surely that should make us happy?
And yet study after study shows that being affluent might bring satisfaction, but it doesn't bring much happiness.
Perhaps, as people become really rich, they don't choose more enjoyable activities (i.e. they stay in the office working)? Perhaps material goods just can't make us happy?
Or perhaps there is always someone richer, spoiling the party with their more impressive wealth?
There's something missing from these accounts, though, and it's the old argument that when you live in luxurious surroundings, have experienced the best restaurants and received the most lavish gifts, it becomes more difficult to savor the simple things in life.
Welcome to "Ask Howard"
Welcome to the Lake Mary Counseling Center's "Ask Howard" Blog. We will be updating soon with new information on therapy and counseling. Please check back soon and we look forward from hearing from you in the near future.
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