Employers Provide Mental Health Benefits, Yet Gaps Persist

Most employers include mental health care coverage in their health insurance packages, yet significant gaps in effective care remain. A recent study conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) has revealed that while 97% of companies surveyed offer mental health benefits, many lack a clear understanding of how these services are utilized by employees.

The 2025 EBRI Employer Survey, published on October 6, 2023, gathered insights from professionals at 400 companies employing 500 or more individuals. The survey found that alongside traditional mental health services, many organizations also provide nontraditional programs, such as financial therapy (62%) and mindfulness applications (74%). Despite this wide-ranging coverage, the survey highlighted several critical shortcomings.

Only two-thirds of the participating companies offered coverage for substance use treatment. Furthermore, merely one-third provided ongoing care for chronic mental health conditions. Alarmingly, only 25% of organizations extended their coverage to address the needs of employees from diverse cultural backgrounds. The provision of stigma reduction campaigns aimed at encouraging employees to seek mental health care was even less common.

A contributing factor to these gaps appears to be the lack of monitoring by employers regarding the usage of mental health services. Only 22% of employers analyzed claims data, and just 37% measured employee satisfaction with their health care plans. This lack of oversight raises questions about how well these benefits truly meet employee needs.

“Complete and transparent access to claims data enables employers to design benefit programs that truly meet the needs of their employees and their families,” stated Margaret Faso, policy director at the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. She emphasized the critical importance of achieving transparency to better support workforce health and well-being.

The survey also revealed a concerning perception among employers regarding responsibility for mental health care quality and pricing. Only 10% believed that it was their duty to ensure the breadth of mental health services offered. Instead, employers largely placed this responsibility on insurance companies (28%), federal authorities (30%), and state governments (24%).

As the landscape of employee wellness continues to evolve, the findings from the EBRI survey underscore the necessity for employers to reassess their mental health benefits. This reassessment could ensure that employees receive the appropriate support they require, ultimately fostering a healthier and more productive workforce.