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APA poll: Lack
of insurance,
cost hinders treatment
(December
2004 Issue)
By Aglaia Pikounis
Even as the stigma associated with receiving mental health treatment
has diminished over the years and more Americans are seeking professional
help, a recent study shows that lack of insurance and cost are the
main barriers to obtaining care and treatment.
The poll by the American Psychological Association's Practice Directorate
conducted earlier this year revealed that nearly half, or 48 percent,
of American households have had someone see a mental health professional.
That's a six percent increase from four years ago when a similar
study was done. In addition, more than 90 percent are likely to
consult a mental health professional or recommend that a family
member do so if they or a family member are experiencing a problem.
But many poll respondents noted that lack of insurance coverage
(87 percent) and concerns about the cost of treatment (81 percent)
were key reasons not to get help.
"We've found that many of our members are not surprised by the
findings," says Russ Newman, Ph.D., J.D., executive director for
professional practice at the APA. "We hear from our members on a
regular basis about the difficulties they experience with insurance
companies such as reimbursement issues and session limits. And it's
not unusual for psychologists to offer patients a sliding fee or
payment plan if their insurance does not cover mental health services."
The survey revealed that consumers want a mental health professional
they can trust and with whom they feel comfortable. More than 90
percent said these factors are very important. The poll also showed
that 72 percent had concerns about confidentiality and 77 percent
expressed concern over lack of confidence in the treatment outcome.
"With this background information, a psychologist can address these
issues upfront, assure the patient about confidentiality and perhaps
set checkpoints during the course of treatment to see how both the
psychologist and patient feel about progress and how the treatment
is going," says Newman.
Thirty percent of poll respondents said they would be concerned
about others discovering that they sought mental health treatment.
But, only one in five said that concerns about others finding out
about their treatment or worries about what others will think are
'very important' reasons not to seek help from a professional. These
findings are consistent with the results of the survey conducted
in 2000.
Newman notes that as a concern, stigma ranked eleventh and that
lack of insurance coverage and treatment cost were listed as much
greater reasons why Americans wouldn't see a mental health professional.
"Although we look forward to a time when there is no stigma associated
with receiving mental health services, we think considerable progress
has been made," he says.
In fact, nearly half of Americans responding to the poll said that
the stigma surrounding mental health services has decreased in recent
years.
This survey is the third one done by the APA. The poll was initiated
in 1996 by the APA when it was putting together a public education
campaign and wanted to gauge the public's thoughts and knowledge
about psychology and treatment. The results were used to guide the
APA in shaping its education campaign.
The first survey revealed that stigma was a more significant issue
and that the public didn't understand what psychologists do and
weren't sure how to seek treatment or find a professional.
This year's survey of 1,000 Americans was conducted in January.
All respondents were between the ages of 18 and 64 years old.
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