Trends in private insurance coverage for mental illness

The authors analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Level of Benefits Surveys for the period 1979-1984 to examine coverage for psychiatric disorders in the private sector. While the overall number of employees with psychiatric benefits has increased, a greater percentage have more restrictions on those benefits. The extent of coverage is wide ranging, but there is little depth and the majority of psychiatric care expenses are not insured. Although the figures do not suggest a dramatic cutback in insurance coverage, the trends toward increased reductions in benefits for all health care threaten the more vulnerable psychiatric benefits.