MARKET WATCH: Substance Abuse Benefits: Still Limited After All These Years

Using data from a special supplement to the 2006 Kaiser/HRET Employer Health Benefits Survey, this study examines the state of employer-sponsored insurance substance abuse benefits in 2006 and how benefits compare to coverage for medical-surgical services. In 2006, 88 percent of insured workers had...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health affairs (Millwood, Va.) Va.), 2007-01, Vol.26, p.W474-W482
Main Authors: Gabel, Jon R, Whitmore, Heidi, Pickreign, Jeremy D, Levit, Katharine R, Coffey, Rosanna M, Vandivort-Warren, Rita
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Benefits
Chronic illnesses
Consumer-driven health plans
Cost control
Cost sharing
Drug abuse
Electronic publishing
Employee benefits
Employees
Employers
Health care policy
Health insurance
Health maintenance organizations
Health services
HMOs
Inpatient care
Insurance coverage
Internet
Medical conditions
Mental health care
Outpatient treatment
Package design
Small & medium sized enterprises-SME
Substance abuse
Substance abuse treatment
Workers
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Summary:Using data from a special supplement to the 2006 Kaiser/HRET Employer Health Benefits Survey, this study examines the state of employer-sponsored insurance substance abuse benefits in 2006 and how benefits compare to coverage for medical-surgical services. In 2006, 88 percent of insured workers had some coverage for substance abuse services. Current substance abuse benefits, however, do not provide the same protection afforded under medical-surgical benefits. Instead, substance abuse benefits are characterized by higher cost sharing and annual limits and lifetime limits on inpatient and outpatient care. These limits generally do not exist for other medical conditions and have increased since 1990. [Health Affairs 26, no. 4 (2007): w474-w482 (published online 7 June 2007; 10.1377/hlthaff.26.4.w474)]
ISSN:0278-2715
1544-5208
DOI:10.1377/hlthaff.26.4.w474