Advocates Hope For Stronger Timothy’s Law
By Patrick Fanelli pfanelli@post-journal.com
The law that forbids insurance companies from discriminating against mental health disorders is set to expire in 2009, and advocates hope a stronger law will soon be adopted that includes illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder.
Timothy’s Law has been on the books in New York state since late 2006, when the state Senate and Assembly finally cut a deal on mental health parity in the insurance industry. But a sunset clause was added and the law must be renewed for health insurance providers to continue treating mental health illnesses no differently than other disorders.
‘‘Everything we have heard indicates it’s working very well,’’ said Jeff Keller, National Alliance on Mental Illness state deputy director. ‘‘But I don’t know if the insurance industry will oppose it or not.’’
Timothy’s Law was named after Timothy O’Clair, who suffered from a very severe emotional disorder and hung himself in his bedroom closet at the age of 12.
For years, Tom and Donna O’Clair, Timothy’s parents, struggled to pay for their son’s treatment since they quickly used up their health insurance policy’s limited mental health benefits.
After Timothy’s death, they began fighting to end discrimination against mentally ill disorders by the health insurance industry and succeeded by convincing legislators and former Gov. George Pataki to enact Timothy’s Law.
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