New data indicate that more than one in four adult Americans without medical insurance have a mental illness or substance use disorder, or both. But many state healthcare initiatives intended to cover the uninsured are neglecting these conditions, according to a report by the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare.
According to the report, Coverage for All: Inclusion of Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders in State Healthcare Reform Initiatives, mental illness is the leading cause, and substance use is the second leading cause, of disability among adults. Approximately one-third of these groups, living below the federal poverty line, do not have insurance.
The report reveals that benefits for mental illness and substance use treatment vary greatly across states. Among the report’s findings, few states are including mental illness and substance use disorders in wellness and chronic disease management programs. Also, based on a study of 18 states, approximately 60 percent have equal coverage for mental illnesses in initiatives for the uninsured, but only 28 percent include substance abuse. Download the report.
