Bipolar disorder - health insurance discrimination - awareness?

As a Bipolar person who has been successfully medicated with lithium for several years and otherwise takes great care of himself it drives me "crazy" that in most states Bipolar disorder is an automatic declination with health insurance companies (for private policies). It is not viewed as a pre-existing insurable condition like many other physical problems (and yes Bipolar disorder is of a physical basis). What bothers me even more is that people seem to be completely unaware that this discrimination goes on with our health insurance companies. I feel that there is no voice out there for the millions of people affected by mental health disorder health insurance discrimination. Does anyone know of any groups I can get involved with to spread awareness of this issue (aside from the usual writing congress reps regarding mental health parity legislation)???? Thanks!

Be an Advocate! I am! Find the Mental Health Trust Authority in your state and get started. I email Representatives in my state on a dialy basis. You can also lobby congress if your so inclined and get the ball to a new era rolling. Get in touch with all these organizations and tell them your needs and wishes for this type of advocacy.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

Advocacy and support groups
United States
Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association (DRADA)
Meyer 3-181, 600 North Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21287-7381
Phone: (410) 955-4647
The Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (CABF)
ll87 Wilmette Avenue, #33l
Wilmette, IL 6009l
Phone: (847) 256-8525
Fax: (847) 920-9310
Email: cabf@bpkids.org

A parent-led group providing education, support, and advocacy for children, adolescents, families and professionals.

Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
1021 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2971
Phone: (703) 684-7710
Fax: (703) 836-1040
Email: ffcmh@ffcmh.org

A group for families, especially low-income families, who are caring for a child with a mental illness.

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Blvd. - Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
Phone: (703) 524-7600 or (800) 950-NAMI (Helpline)
Fax: (703) 524-9094
TDD: (703) 516-7227

NAMI is the largest organization for mentally ill people and their families in the US. It has state and local chapters around the country, sponsors legislation, advocates for mentally ill people, and provides excellent information via its web site and publications.

National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association
730 N. Franklin Street, Suite 501
Chicago, IL 60610-3526
Phone: (312) 642-0049 or (800) 826-3632
Fax: (312) 642-7243

This support and advocacy group specifically for people with depression or bipolar depression has chapters throughout the US and an informative web site

google it .and if you cant find one write a lot of letters to the white house to you get a response im biplor and i just found out i had it is lithium hown does it makes you feel

well, from my point of view I decided meds didn't work the doctors were of no help. so such is life.

everbody want free money i work with stress and depression. try it

I found this site very enlightening and helpful...

just about everything, they have campaign rally type things and they have actual stories on there