I get it- you pay for your health insurance every month, and want to go to an in network provider. It comes with this assumption that the care will be more affordable, and thus more accessible. And yet, finding specialized mental health care is very rarely "in network", and I'm here to tell you why.
Insurance companies are for profit entities and have become a trillion dollar industry... yes, trillion. In 2022, big insurance companies brought in $1,250,000,000,000 which is a 300% increase in profit and revenue since 2012 (US Health Insurance Industry Report and Potter, 2023). Insurance companies also have a very large political presence with the largest lobbying presence by industry, spending over $373,000,000 on lobbying in 2022 (Statistica, 2023).
Why does this matter? Well, it allows insurance companies to have a significant amount of control and power in who gets to access care, what type of care can be accessed, and what interventions are allowed to be involved in the care. When it comes to mental health, many providers feel it is important to tailor their care to the INDIVIDUAL, not to the health care company. This individualized care is limited when providers enter into a contract with an insurance company.
Additionally, it can feel like an ethical issue for clinicians as partnering or contracting with a company that has been found to exploit the information of their participants, or have extorted profits, or has limited access to needed care can feel very counter to our code of ethics which support autonomy, self-determination, and supporting and caring for each person as an individual (NASW, 2023).
These issues are complex, and we respect your ability to seek care that makes the most sense for your family. What questions do you have about health insurance coverage?
Yes! I also don't want my insurance company to have access to my private mental health records. So agree with this. They are a racket!