Post ACA, Coverage For Mental Health Reaches More Individuals Than Ever
A new study from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill shows that the likelihood of an individual to seek treatment for a mental health condition increased significantly following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), better known as Obamacare.
The study was published in the medical journal Psychiatric Services and found both specific and overall increases in mental health coverage under the ACA. Mental health patients are now 8% less likely to be uninsured, 4% less likely to report unmet needs because of cost, and 6% more likely to report a steady care source.
The conclusion is that accessible mental health care results in more people seeking treatment. That said, there are still serious barriers to affordable mental health care including an intense social ...