Am J Psychiatry 1986; 143:1276-1279
Copyright © 1986 by American Psychiatric Association
Trends in private insurance coverage for mental illness
J Brady, SS Sharfstein and IL Muszynski Jr
The authors analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Level of
Benefits Surveys for the period 1979-1984 to examine coverage for
psychiatric disorders in the private sector. While the overall number of
employees with psychiatric benefits has increased, a greater percentage
have more restrictions on those benefits. The extent of coverage is wide
ranging, but there is little depth and the majority of psychiatric care
expenses are not insured. Although the figures do not suggest a dramatic
cutback in insurance coverage, the trends toward increased reductions in
benefits for all health care threaten the more vulnerable psychiatric
benefits.
