Insurances Impact on Treatment

Since the beginning of the 21st century accessing mental health care has been needlessly difficult, particularly for marginalized communities. Many providers have limited what kind of insurance they will accept, putting people in need in a disadvantageous position forcing them to pay out of pocket for treatment. The COVID 19 pandemic further highlighted the various barriers to accessing mental health care and historically marginalized communities experienced the greatest barriers to accessing health care. According to a study conducted by the National Library of Public Medicine, the odds of having health insurance were 40 % lower for people with serious psychological distress than for those without. This is particularly concerning when considering the cost of treatment. According to a study by the American Center for Progress the average cost of a psychiatric diagnostic evaluation in Minnesota is $241 and the total cost for 12 sessions of psychotherapy is $1,920. Considering the broad scope of mental illnesses in contemporary society, psychotherapy providers could recommend more intensive treatment leading to a higher cost for clients in need who are paying out of pocket. This is where we see a clash between insurers and care providers. In some states, insurance companies have the authority to deem what is and what is not a medical necessity. The main problem that arises with this is that it limits the level of autonomy for those attempting to access mental health resources. The interference from insurance companies makes it difficult for care providers to ethically carry out their duties. The term “medical necessity” is also ambiguous and hard to define and clinicians who often deal with insurance companies believe that it is a way for insurance companies to undermine the client’s autonomy and access to treatment. For far too long insurance companies have made accessing necessary care needlessly difficult and it is apparent that having insurance companies active in the process only hinders the progress of those seeking care.  
References 
Director, S. Nadeau                    Associate, Nadeau, S., Director, A., President, J. Cusick                    Vice, Cusick, J., President, V., Director, M. Shepherd                    Senior, Shepherd, M., Director, S., Rapfogel, N., Altiraifi, A., Sozan, M., Correa-Buntley, T., Ombres, D., Ballard, D., & Bedekovics, G. (2020, March 23). The Behavioral Health Care Affordability Problem. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-behavioral-health-care-affordability-problem/ 
Rowan, K., McAlpine, D. D., & Blewett, L. A. (2013). Access and cost barriers to mental health care, by insurance status, 1999-2010. Health affairs (Project Hope), 32(10), 1723–1730. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2013.0133 
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