Researchers at Johns Hopkins found that 25 percent of adults with anxiety and depression in the US cannot afford to pay their mental health care bills, keeping them from receiving psychiatric care. Medical debt doubled the likelihood that people would either go without treatment or delay treatment for mental conditions, according to the research findings published in the JAMA Network. Mental health parity continues to be a dream.
Nearly one in five households in the US carry medical debt, making it hard to get treatment for mental conditions when needed. Medical debt is prevalent among Americans with anxiety and depression.
More than eight percent of Americans have not paid their medical bills of $250 or more. Overall, Americans in debt often face poor health outcomes and struggle to pay for their daily needs, including food and housing. Having health insurance does not help them.
Sadly, not even half of adults with a mental disorder get treatment for it in the US. It’s expensive, even with insurance. And, psychiatrists tend not to accept insurance. So, out-of-pocket costs for mental health treatment can be exceptionally high.
The researchers surveyed nearly 28,000 adults. Insured Americans with high deductible health plans were most likely to forego or delay mental health treatment.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- New bill in Congress would cancel medical debt
- Older adults owe $54 billion in medical debt
- Medical debt is a profit center for banks and private equity
- The deadly consequences of out-of-pocket drug costs
- Older adults are extremely worried about affording health care
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