As California continues to grapple with rising health care costs and increasing concerns about access to mental health care, the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) in conjunction with SSRS, a national survey research firm, conducted its second annual California Health Policy Survey. The poll provides insights into Californians’ experiences and attitudes about health coverage, health care costs, access to care, Medi-Cal, mental health, substance use treatment, the health care workforce, and homelessness.
Among health issues, Californians’ top priority is ensuring people with mental health problems can get treatment (52% say it is “extremely important”). Next is lowering the price of prescription drugs (47% “extremely important”), followed by making sure all Californians have health insurance (46% “extremely important”).
The poll also found that large numbers of Californians who need mental health care struggle to get it. Among those with insurance who tried to make an appointment for mental health care in the past 12 months, nearly half (48%) found it “very difficult” or “somewhat difficult” to find a provider who took their insurance. Over half (52%) of those who tried to make an appointment (with or without insurance) believe they waited longer than was reasonable to get one.
“For too long, the health care system has treated mental health concerns as a second-tier issue,” said CHCF President and CEO Sandra R. Hernández, MD. “For the second year in a row, the people of California are sending a clear message that this is the top health care issue they want addressed.”
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