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 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.