Depression - Comparing the Costs of Depression and the Costs of Health Insurance

Long-term depression can affect a person's life dramatically. It causes social, emotional, physical, and mental symptoms. It can lead to disability if not dealt with in the long term. There are several theories on what this disorder is exactly. The most common view is that it is a symptom of other diseases and disorders. Some physical diseases can cause someone to feel depressed. That often happens when someone's hormones are off balance and that affects their emotional and mental state. Some people have a genetic predisposition to hormonal imbalances that affect mental and emotional state.

If left untreated, depression can disable a person from doing normal activities. This condition, in its worse state, can make people unable to leave their home and even their beds. Many people dealing with it often overeat or cannot eat as a result. Some lose jobs and friendships as a result. Productivity in their lives comes to slow motion or complete stand still. In extreme cases, it can lead to thoughts of death and even suicide attempts. That is when the real cost of the disease begins to show. And thousands of people every year take their lives after a period of being depressed.

Some people need both medical and psychological help to get through a depression episode. Medical treatments include taking certain medications, screening for certain medical disorders, and treating symptoms as need. Psychological help often requires talk therapy, group therapy, or behavioral interventions. The best results often come when a patient has access to both treatment options. Using one or the other can be useful. But many do better with both. That means the patient needs access to medical and psychological professionals along with proper medical testing as needed.

Why look at these costs? The costs of depression are staggering. Not only are medical costs involved, the person also has financial difficulties due to loss of wages and support structure. It is very important for people with this disorder to have medical insurance in place. Many people that go through one depressive episode will have others. And the best way to deal with the next one is immediate treatment. That means having the resources ready for the next episode and not waiting for insurance to kick in. Medical insurance is the best tool you can purchase. That insurance will give you access to the medical and psychological resources you need to deal with the disorder.