Most Americans List Lack of Insurance Coverage & Cost as Top Reasons For Not Seeking Mental Health Services
Insurance coverage problems and costs supplant stigma as the number one obstacle to accessing mental health services according to a survey commissioned by the American Psychological Association.
Americans say it’s lack of insurance coverage (87%) or cost (81%) that most keeps them from seeing a mental health professional with 65% citing lack of insurance coverage as a very important reason for not seeking treatment.
Survey results also show that 85% of Americans say health insurance should cover mental health services and that 97% of Americans believe access to mental health services is important with nearly three in four considering such services very important, on par with dental care.
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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2 Comments to
“Most Americans List Lack of Insurance Coverage & Cost as Top Reasons For Not Seeking Mental Health Services”
I am new and do not want to get off on the wrong foot. My sister is Bipolar. A couple of years ago it came to a point that she could no longer work. Her disability checks were enough to pay for the cost of living but not for her medication. She couldn’t get help from her State (CA) We did find a website that helps others access medication for free. She now gets all her medications free. I don’t want to do any advertising, etc. but if someone is in need for help with their medications post a message and I will give you the website address. What I did want to ask is what should I know about my sister’s illness? I’m trying to educate myself as she is coming to live with me, and I want to make sure that I’m as prepared as possible. Many thanks CMaloney
Yes, please more advocacy for mental health insurance coverage. Perhaps because
I think George Bush’s term is definitely coming to an end, John Kerry has promised
better health insurance coverage. People should look forward to lobbying with Kerry.
I called 20 psychiatrists on my insurance plan, but only 1 called me back.
That meant 19 insurance plan psychiatrists had full practices.
The psychiatrist on the insurance plan who called me back
was not a good doctor and had some really out-of-date medical ideology.
When I found a good psychiatrist who was out-of-network from my insurance,
my insurance plan refused to pay for her, so I pay for her out-of-pocket.
The lack of insurance coverage for mental health is ludicrous, both
psychiatry and therapy from psychologists, and something needs to be
done about it in terms of advocacy.
Even with Parity Law AB88, there is still a ludicrous lack of
decent insurance coverage for the mentally ill.
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 28 Jun 2004
