The Affordable Care Act and mental health services.

 MEDICAID EXPANSION: The ACA expanded Medicaid to all adults and children living at 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. Crucially, people with behavioral health conditions make up 28% of that population. In states that chose to expand Medicaid, millions of people with behavioral health conditions gained access to health insurance, including coverage of mental health and substance use disorder services. Access to Medicaid coverage, which virtually always provides more comprehensive mental health services than private insurance, has led to cost savings for states and to more people with mental illnesses working. 2  BAN ON PRE-EXISTING CONDITION DISCRIMINATION: The ACA prohibits health insurers from denying coverage to anyone because of a pre-existing health condition, such as a mental illness.  HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDIES: The ACA also provides subsidies for low income individuals and families who otherwise would be unable to afford coverage.  COVERAGE FOR DEPENDENTS TO AGE 26: The ACA requires all health insurers to cover an individual’s dependents to age 26. This ensures that millions of young adults are able to continue receiving health insurance.  BAN ON ANNUAL AND LIFETIME LIMITS: The ACA prohibits health insurers from limiting the amount of money they will spend per person. Before the ACA, many health insurers set a cap on how much they would pay per person each year. After an individual hit that limit, the insurer would refuse to pay any additional health care costs. Health insurers also set a life-time limit and many people with mental illnesses found themselves over that limit and with health insurance that would not pay for any health care services.