Question

Many people with severe mental disorders are members of Medicare/Medicaid, which covers most medications. Some legislative changes to Medicare (Part D) now require some patients to be responsible for a co-pay. Should people diagnosed with severe psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia, be responsible for co-pays for their psychiatric medications? Why or why not? Who, if anyone, should pay?

Answer 1

Normally, a medical insurance is supposed to cover everything but recently, government has made a change in the Medicare section D. This will force the beneficiaries to pay a fixed sum when they approach for medical facilities. Co-pay literally means the being a partner in payment thus beneficiaries who are part of the Medicare will also pay a sum along with the government.

Normal people who work and secure an earning will be able to pay as a co-pay but people who are mentally ill and people who are psychotic disorders will be in a state where they won’t be able to work and thus will be left without any income. Forcing them to pay will only make their situation worse.

In my opinion, it’s the responsibility of the government to facilitate a healthy life to its citizens, especially people who cannot act on themselves such as children, elderly and mentally ill people. The Social Security Act along with the disabled protection act should strive hard to protect the rights of the disabled and mentally disordered people.