Considerations in the design of mental health benefits under National Health Insurance

Abstract

The existing insurance coverage for mental health benefits provides incentives for hospital as compared with community care and reinforces a medical approach to psychological disability. Moreover, the structure of benefits favors the affluent as compared with the disadvantaged and provides little assistance for the community integration of the chronic mental patient. In considering mental health benefits under National Health Insurance we must be careful to avoid reinforcing these patterns. It is suggested that NHI include a mental health resource development fund intended for building a stronger network of community mental health care and that the pattern of insurance benefits under NHI be consistent with developing psychiatric services on a capitation basis.