The Obama administration has issued guidelines that Americans will get coverage not only for physical illness but for mental illness and substance abuse treatment also.

There will be no separate annual deductibles for mental health treatment. Copayments for visiting a psychiatrist or social worker will not exceed the charges given for visiting a family doctor or a medical specialist.

Andrew Sperling of the National Alliance on Mental Illness said, "Health plans will be under an obligation to provide the same level of coverage for treatment of mental illness as they do for cancer, diabetes and heart disease."

The aim of the law passed by Congress in 2008 is to eliminate financial barriers people face for treating mental health problems. With this coverage, 140 million Americans in more than 450,000 employer plans will be benefited.

Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 will be implemented by the improved coverage.

With the law, the number of visits will be free from coming under any sort of limit for mental health problems.

U. S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, "The rules issued will assure that those diagnosed with these debilitating and sometimes life-threatening disorders will not suffer needless or arbitrary limits on their care."