Roughly two-thirds of Americans with a diagnosed mental health condition were unable to access treatment in 2021, though they had health insurance. And only a third of insured people who visited an emergency department or hospital during a mental health crisis, received follow-up care within a month of being discharged.

These are among the findings of a new report by the actuary firm Milliman, released Wednesday. The mental health advocacy group, Inseparable, commissioned the report and also released an accompanying brief offering policy solutions to address the gaps in mental health care.

“We kept hearing nightmare stories about Americans not getting the treatment that they needed because insurance companies were denying them care,” says Bill Smith, founder of Inseparable. “But we didn’t have enough data to show just how extensive and deep the problem was.”

  • Drusas
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    1 year ago

    Most Americans can’t even get mental health care even if they can afford it and try to get it. Everywhere is always booked up and not taking new patients. Extra good luck to you if you’re actually trying to find a therapist who meshes well with you and not just whatever random therapist will get you in within the next year.

    And this is not a pandemic problem; it has been going on for many years.