--- title: "Psych News Alert: Americans With Mental Illness Often Lack Health Insurance" description: Uninsurance rates among adults with frequent mental distress are extremely high, a study published in the October Psychiatric Services has f... image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/lavender%20shirt%20guy_24271894-Jun-24-2025-04-15-45-5981-PM.jpg --- 11/18/11 12:00 AM # Americans With Mental Illness Often Lack Health Insurance ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/11/americans-with-mental-illness-often.html) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/11/americans-with-mental-illness-often.html) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/11/americans-with-mental-illness-often.html) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/11/americans-with-mental-illness-often.html) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/11/americans-with-mental-illness-often.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/lavender%20shirt%20guy_24271894-Jun-24-2025-04-15-46-5793-PM.jpg?width=133&height=200&name=lavender%20shirt%20guy_24271894-Jun-24-2025-04-15-46-5793-PM.jpg)](https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/lavender%20shirt%20guy_24271894-Jun-24-2025-04-15-44-7402-PM.jpg) Uninsurance rates among adults with frequent mental distress are extremely high, a study published in the October *Psychiatric Services *has found. Thus many of the people who have the greatest need for treatment, and the health insurance to pay for it, are probably the least likely to have access to it. And regardless of whether the Supreme Court decides if the new health care reform law is constitutional, this study bolsters the argument that the law is likely to benefit a very substantial number of Americans. More information about the findings and implications of this study can be found in *Psychiatric Services* at [http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=178311](http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=178311) and in *Psychiatric News *at* * [http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=180750](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=180750) . (Tepikina Nastya/Shutterstock.com ) [health insurance and the mentally ill](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/health-insurance-and-the-mentally-ill), [the health care reform law](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/the-health-care-reform-law) ## Related posts [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gavelstethoscope_45483208-Jun-24-2025-10-47-15-9206-PM.jpg?height=200&name=gavelstethoscope_45483208-Jun-24-2025-10-47-15-9206-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/06/appeals-court-says-individual-insurance.html) [health care reform](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/health-care-reform), [individual mandate](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/individual-mandate) ## [Appeals Court Says Individual Insurance Mandate Is Constitutional](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/06/appeals-court-says-individual-insurance.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 6/30/11 12:00 AM Andy Dean Photography/Shutterstock A federal appeals court in Cincinnati upheld the... [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/06/appeals-court-says-individual-insurance.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/parity_last-Jun-24-2025-05-06-16-4674-PM.png?height=200&name=parity_last-Jun-24-2025-05-06-16-4674-PM.png) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/11/insurers-must-cover-intermediate-care.html) [Jeffrey Lieberman](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/jeffrey-lieberman), [Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/mental-health-parity-and-addiction-equity-act-of-2), [final parity rule](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/final-parity-rule) ## [Insurers Must Cover Intermediate Care Levels, Provide Transparency to Patients, Parity Rule States](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/11/insurers-must-cover-intermediate-care.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 11/12/13 12:00 AM In a significant step forward for patients receiving mental health care, the final rule to... [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/11/insurers-must-cover-intermediate-care.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_45847387-Jun-24-2025-05-40-17-5657-PM.gif?height=200&name=shutterstock_45847387-Jun-24-2025-05-40-17-5657-PM.gif) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/06/ama-sticks-by-policy-requiring.html) [psychiatrists](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatrists), [health reform](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/health-reform), [AMA](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/ama), [physicians](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/physicians) ## [AMA Sticks by Policy Requiring Individuals to Purchase a Minimum Level of Health Insurance](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/06/ama-sticks-by-policy-requiring.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 6/24/11 12:00 AM John Kwan/Shutterstock The AMA's House of Delegates reaffirmed its support for policy that would... 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