Access to mental health services: are uninsured children falling behind?

Previous research has established that insurance status is not a significant determinant of children's use of mental health services (S. Glied, C. W. Hoven, R. E. Moore, A. B. Garrett, & D. A. Regier, 1997; B. J. Burns et al., 1995; P. J. Cunningham & M. P. Freiman, 1996), with uninsured children using no fewer services than privately insured children. However, the introduction of SCHIP, increases in managed care, and mental health parity legislation have all occurred since the last relevant data was collected. Using recent data from the National Survey of America's Families, we find that in 1999, compared with insured children, uninsured children had dramatically reduced access to mental health services. No differences were found in data collected in 1997. This suggests that recent legislative and market changes may have caused children who remain uninsured to be at a significant disadvantage.