More insured people are investing in mental healthcare and paying for it, too. A new study revealed that between 2019 and 2022, spending on mental healthcare increased disproportionately compared to increased utilization of healthcare services during the same period.

Cantor JH, McBain RK, Ho P-C, Bravata DM, Whaley C. Telehealth and in-person mental health service utilization and spending, 2019 to 2022. JAMA Health Forum. 2023;4(8).

The study suggests that this divide may grow now that the public health emergency—which was declared in 2020 due to rising cases of COVID-19 and allowed for an increase in telehealth services and healthcare funding—has ended. Whether or not—or to what extent—insurance companies will back future mental healthcare costs has yet to be seen.

Cantor JH, McBain RK, Ho P-C, Bravata DM, Whaley C. Telehealth and in-person mental health service utilization and spending, 2019 to 2022. JAMA Health Forum. 2023;4(8).

Ian Jackson, LPC-MHSP, LMHC, NCC, a licensed mental health counselor with Recovery Unplugged, says that these trends suggest “that out-of-pocket costs for mental healthcare could potentially rise.”

“As demand for services grows, so too might costs,” Jackson says. He adds that the issue is complex. In addition to insurance coverage, individual provider policies and any changes in government policy could impact future turnout. 

When it comes to individual provider policies, not all mental health professionals accept insurance.  Studies have found that psychiatrists are less likely to accept insurance compared to physicians in other specialties. For any type of psychiatry or psychotherapy, people in a pinch may not have time to find someone who both accepts insurance and accepts insurance within their network.

Bishop TF, Press MJ, Keyhani S, Pincus HA. Acceptance of insurance by psychiatrists and the implications for access to Mental Health Care. JAMA Psychiatry. 2014;71(2):176. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.2862 

Depending on how the future plays out, this increased spending may inspire positive changes, too.

“The increased demand for mental health services has accelerated the development and adoption of innovative solutions, like teletherapy and internet-supported mental health interventions,” Jackosn says. “These technologies make mental healthcare more accessible, especially for those who may have previously faced barriers to access.”

If this demand continues, Jackson says, it will hopefully  “lead to more comprehensive coverage of mental healthcare and increased investment in mental health resources,” in addition to destigmatizing the act of seeking help.