Why insurers’ mental health coverage falls short

The U.S. faces an ongoing mental health crisis in the aftermath of the illness, death, social disruption and economic hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet chronic gaps persist in access to mental healthcare despite the enactment of major laws meant to guarantee that health insurance covers these services.

More than 20% of U.S. adults reported having mental illnesses this year, according a survey by the advocacy organization Mental Health…