As social workers in the General Assembly, we constantly hear from residents about how difficult it is to find a mental health provider who accepts their insurance. Many people struggle for months to get care or are forced to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Finding an in-network therapist or psychiatrist can feel impossible. Parents reach out to us, desperate to find help for children dealing with anxiety, depression, or self-harm, only to be told there’s a long waitlist or that they must pay upfront for out-of-network providers. This issue affects families in every district across Illinois.
Mental health care is expensive. A single therapy session costs around $150, and many people need weekly or monthly visits. For families with multiple members needing care, these costs add up fast.
The Burden on Mental Health Providers
It’s not just patients who suffer—mental health professionals are struggling, too. Many are independent providers or small business owners who face low insurance reimbursement rates. These rates often don’t even cover their costs, forcing them to stop accepting insurance and only take private-pay clients. This makes mental health care even more unaffordable for most Illinois residents.
Although federal and state laws have been passed to improve mental health coverage, insurance companies still aren’t doing enough. To truly make care accessible and affordable, insurance companies need to step up.
The Solution: Senate Bill 55 & House Bill 1085
To fix this issue, we are fighting for Senate Bill 55 and House Bill 1085. These bills will ensure that insurance companies in Illinois provide better mental health coverage, from therapy to psychiatry.
Right now, insurance companies don’t pay mental health professionals fairly. A study by the Research Triangle Institute found that behavioral health providers in Illinois are reimbursed 23% to 52% less than other medical professionals. Meanwhile, primary care doctors—who are also in short supply—are reimbursed fairly, so they remain in-network. If insurance companies paid mental health providers fairly, more would stay in-network, making care accessible to more people.
The mental health crisis is growing, especially among teens and young adults. Rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, and drug overdoses are increasing, yet insurance networks are shrinking. This is unacceptable.
Insurance companies know these challenges exist, but they have not done enough to solve them. Illinois must act now to ensure that families get the care they need. Passing these bills is the first step in making mental health care truly accessible and affordable.
