February 12, 2025

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Rising Cost of Mental Health Care Is Putting a Strain On Families

Rising Cost of Mental Health Care Is Putting a Strain On Families

More than 23% of Americans live with a mental health condition, including nearly 20 million children. This means that nearly one in four individuals are living with issues that impact their quality of life—and many are facing financial barriers when it comes to accessing care.

Earlier this year, studies revealed that the cost associated with caring for a child with a mental health condition jumped by almost a third between 2017 and 2021. It now costs the average American $4,361 more per year to care for a child with a mental health condition. Add to that the cost of caring for a parent or another family member with a mental health condition—nearly 1 in 10 Americans say they’ve accumulated debt to pay for mental health treatment (myself included)—and it’s easy to see how mental health care is quickly becoming a luxury service. 

Brenay, a single mom, tells Parents that she has been forced off medication vital to her mental health as she cannot afford the $35 co-pay necessary to see her provider. 

“As a low-income single mom, finding providers that accept Medicaid AND don’t have a months- to years-long waitlist is the largest hurdle I face in accessing care, particularly mental health care,” Brenay explains. “I rarely have the funds to take care of my own mental health needs.”

Meredith echoed a similar sentiment after losing her husband and health insurance. Her new plan did not cover mental health care.

“It’s wild to me that in a time of grief, our system isn’t equipped to offer mental health services,” Meredith, a mom of two, said. “I’m navigating grief, solo motherhood, and have ASD [autism spectrum disorder] but on a fixed income. Getting services just isn’t in the budget these days.”

And Brenay and Meredith are not alone. I too have stopped treatment due to lack of funds. I live with bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and PTSD. I’ve accumulated debt to cover my mental health expenses. I have a psychiatrist, a therapist, and take multiple medications. The former, while in-network, includes copays—which are paid via credit card. I spend roughly $45 for each visit. The latter is out of network. I owe my therapist more than a thousand dollars in back pay. And my medications? They are (thankfully) covered via FSA, the only silver lining. 

Problems with the Mental Health Care System

Now I know a few thousand in debt may not sound like a lot but it adds up—especially in times of crisis. Many partial hospitalization programs cost hundreds a day, with insurance. (I was quoted more than $700 in New York when I needed to access the system.) Inpatient programs are even more expensive. For a standard 30-day program, individuals may pay anywhere between $15,000 to $60,000, A Mission for Michael explains. But one’s needs need not be as severe or extreme to put undue financial pressure on them. 

According to a Verywell Mind survey, the cost of therapy alone impacts an individual’s ability to access it. A third have canceled sessions due to out-of-pocket expenses, 39% have reduced the frequency of their sessions, and 31% have stopped going to save money.

Others fail to get treatment in the first place. According to Mental Health America’s (MHA) “The State of Mental Health in America” report, 10% of adults with a mental illness are uninsured—and millions of adults and youth lack parity in insurance coverage, meaning they have private insurance that does not cover mental health care. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 39% of Americans do not seek mental health care because “they cannot afford it.” Another 16% do not receive treatment because their “health insurance does not pay enough for mental health services.” And failure to receive proper mental health treatment—or any treatment—can negatively affect one’s wellbeing. 

It can lead to a worsening of one’s mental health condition, decreased quality of life, work issues, increased drug and/or alcohol misuse, physical ailments, and even suicide. As Caleb Silver, the editor-in-chief of Investopedia explains, it can have financial consequences, too.

“The inaccessibility of proper mental health treatment for millions of Americans can have negative cascading financial implications on an individual and family’s financial health,” Silver explains. “It could lead to a loss of income if the individual is unable to work due to their condition, and could impact other family members’ ability to work if they need to provide care or support for their loved one. That loss, or interruption of income, can lead to mounting debt and the inability to access credit, leading to more financial and personal stress.”

Mental Health Disparities Among Diverse Populations

The financial difficulties plaguing the mental system are by no means isolated. In fact, they may affect diverse populations more. 

According to the American Psychiatric Association, APA minority groups are less likely to receive mental health care. For example, in 2015, 48% of whites with mental health conditions received mental health services while only 31% of Blacks and Hispanics received treatment—and 22% of Asians. And while factors vary—stigma plays a role as does the lack of diversity amongst mental health providers—financial barriers remain a problem for diverse populations as well. According to the APA, “lack of insurance, underinsurance” and “inadequate support for mental health services in safety net settings” were all reasons cited for not seeking treatment.

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What Families Can Do to Offset Expenses

Of course, many families find themselves overwhelmed by this reality. Some feel they have to choose between their pocketbook and their health and wellbeing—or the health and wellbeing of a loved one. Some feel they must go into debt to live. To survive and thrive. And some feel stuck between a proverbial rock and a hard place. Mental health care should not be this difficult to access. But there are ways to offset expenses. Below are some of the most common ways families can cut costs and save money. 

Find a sliding scale provider. 

If you are having a difficult time finding an in-network provider and/or do not have insurance, you should look for someone who works on a sliding scale. Sliding scale providers offer services based on your income and create rates based on what you can afford. Note: This option is especially helpful for those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Try group therapy or workshops. 

While the most common form of therapy may be individual therapy, group therapy has its place. And bonus: it is usually more affordable than its one-on-one counterpart. For many conditions, it is also equally as effective. Consider switching from individual to group therapy, or try a few sessions each month to lower your costs.

Seek grants or scholarships, when applicable. 

Some treatment facilities offer grants or scholarships to help offset the cost of attending. This is particularly common in inpatient facilities and/or partial hospitalization programs. However, most do not cover the duration of your stay and many will revoke funding if you don’t complete the program. Be sure to understand the stipulations of each before deciding whether or not a grant or scholarship is right for you and/or your family’s situation.

Shop around, for providers and prescriptions. 

While one may assume prescription costs are regulated between pharmacies, a Consumer Reports investigation found that pricing varies widely. As such, it pays to comparison shop. Of course, calling every pharmacy in your neighborhood may not be practical—particularly if you take multiple medications—but there are tools available to help assist you with the process. A simple online search can garner numerous results.

Shopping around for providers is also crucial. Finding an in-network counselor, therapist, or psychiatrist, for example, can save you thousands each year—if you have insurance. Working with a sliding scale provider, as mentioned above, is another great way to reduce costs. And if you’re not sure where to begin, you can call your insurance company for guidance and information and/or conduct an online search.

Ask your doctor or psychiatrist for samples. 

Whether you receive your medication from a general practitioner or a psychiatrist, there’s a good chance they have and/or receive samples. Most healthcare providers are given samples, particularly of new-to-the-market drugs, and these samples are provided for patient use. 

Asking for samples is a good way to try a new medication. It is a great way to restock a maintenance medication, without any out-of-pocket expenses, and samples can help you get your treatment plan under control. That said, not every medication will be available via sample. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine the best course of action. 

If seeking support for a minor, talk to the school. 

If you are seeking support for a child under the age of 18, you may be able to get it through their school. Many have counselors, social workers, or psychologists on staff—and sometimes all it takes to access said services is a formal request (made in writing or via phone call). That said, it should be noted that while these services can make a huge difference, in some regions, they can be hard to access. Some systems, for example, are overburdened and overloaded, making it difficult to take on new students—even in emergency situations. Others are underfunded. 

To better understand what services are available to your child, contact their school.

Check out SAMHSA. 

SAMHSA helps individuals and families tap into resources they may not have found through online searches and/or doctor or school referrals by offering helplines, substance abuse programs, mental health programs, and disaster support. They also have a “Find Treatment” section which helps match people with mental health care providers in their area and includes information on paying for services.

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