Employers Offer Mental Health Benefits, Yet Gaps Persist

Despite the high percentage of employers providing mental health care benefits, significant gaps in effective coverage remain. A recent survey from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), released on October 10, 2025, reveals that while virtually all companies polled include mental health services in their health insurance packages, many are unaware of how effectively these services are utilized by their employees.

The EBRI survey, which targeted decision-makers at 400 companies with over 500 employees, found that 97% of respondents confirmed their organizations offered mental health coverage. Notably, a majority also included nontraditional programs: 62% provided access to financial therapists, and 74% offered mindfulness apps.

However, the findings highlighted several concerning deficiencies in coverage. Only 66% of companies included substance use treatment, and just 33% covered ongoing treatment for chronic mental health conditions. Moreover, only 25% of employers catered to diverse cultural backgrounds and unique employee needs. Stigma reduction campaigns, which foster environments encouraging employees to seek mental health care, were even less prioritized.

The survey suggests a possible explanation for these coverage gaps: many employers are not actively tracking the usage of mental health services. Only 22% analyzed claims data to understand how benefits were being utilized, and merely 37% gauged employee satisfaction with their health care plans overall.

Margaret Faso, policy director at the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, emphasized the importance of transparency in accessing claims data. “Complete and transparent access to claims data enables employers to design benefit programs that truly meet the needs of their employees and their families,” Faso stated in a press release. This lack of data-driven decision-making could hinder the effectiveness of mental health benefits.

Furthermore, the survey revealed a significant sentiment among employers regarding responsibility for the breadth, pricing, and quality of mental health services. Only 10% of employers believed these aspects should fall under their purview. Instead, they attributed this responsibility to insurance companies (28%), the federal government (30%), and state governments (24%).

This disconnect raises questions about the accountability of employers in providing comprehensive mental health care. As the workplace increasingly recognizes the importance of mental health, aligning services with employee needs becomes essential.

The findings of this survey highlight the critical need for employers to adopt a more proactive approach in monitoring and improving mental health benefits. As organizations strive to support their workforce’s well-being, understanding the actual usage of these services is key to creating effective and inclusive mental health programs.