Will Work for Food and Health Care

Health insurance: only when you don’t need it. Confused? Let me explain. In our illogical model, our society provides health insurance to the gainfully employed. But, ironically, it is the gainfully unemployed who most need mental health coverage. In the United States, our employer-based health care model is predicated on — surprise surprise — employment. For the standard nine to five set, employer-based health insurance is a satisfactory option. Generally, employers subsidize out-of-pocket health care costs — including mental health coverage–for their employees. Yes, the health care system works — if you gainfully work. But in our unstable job market (hello, Great Recession!), millennials to Boomers face dwindling employment opportunities. During the Great Recession alone, the U.S. economy lost over 10 million jobs.   As the Great Recession plunged millions of Americans into unemployment, mental health issues among displaced workers soared. According to The Atlantic, “unemployed Americans are more than twice as likely as those with full-time jobs to say they currently have or are being treated for depression — 12.4 percent vs. 5.6 percent, respectively.” Unemployment exacts an emotional toll — and our health care paradigm exacerbates that sense of estrangement and alienation.   When I was unemployed, my mental health issues spiked. Depressive and anxious thoughts vied for supremacy, torpedoing my emotional well-being...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Panic Depression Health-related Industrial and Workplace Personal Policy and Advocacy affordable care act Health Care System Health economics Health Insurance healthcare Mental Health Mental Health Care obamacare re Source Type: blogs