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Health Insurance and Substance Use Treatment Need

NCJ Number
217532
Date Published
February 2007
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Based on combined 2004 and 2005 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), this report presents annual averages on health insurance coverage and the need for and receipt of substance-use treatment among persons 18 years old or older in the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population.
Abstract
In 2004 and 2005, an annual average of 85.4 percent of persons ages 18 or older had some type of health insurance coverage in the past year, and 70.5 percent had private health insurance. Adults 18 years old or older who needed substance-use treatment in the past year were less likely than adults not needing such treatment to have some type of health insurance coverage in the past year (74.4 percent compared to 86.6 percent). Of the persons 18 years old or older who needed and felt the need for treatment but did not receive specialty treatment, 31.2 percent reported they did not receive treatment because they did not have health insurance coverage and could not afford to pay for treatment. Of those persons classified as needing and receiving alcohol or illicit-drug-use treatment in the past year, and whose last treatment was at a specialty facility, 51.2 percent reported that some type of health insurance paid for the services. 1 table and 2 figures