{
  "id": 15041053,
  "title": "Having insurance doesn't mean you can get a mental health appointment",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/having-insurance-doesnt-mean-you-can-get-a-mental-health-appointment",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-16T21:00:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-10-doesnt-mental-health.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new study reveals that having commercial insurance does not guarantee access to mental health appointments. Researchers posing as \"secret shoppers\" called psychiatrists and psychologists in five states, finding that appointments were available in only 24% of cases. When callers were willing to see another clinician, appointments could be made 31% of the time. The issue stems from inaccurate provider directories, with 56% of calls reaching an automated system or answering machine. Some providers move, change phone numbers, or leave practices, but these changes often aren't reflected in insurance directories. Additionally, insurers may list clinicians who are part of a contracted group but aren't actually available. These \"ghost providers\" or networks create substantial barriers to care, leaving people underinsured despite having insurance. Provider-directory accuracy is a systemic problem across specialties, with roots in inconsistent regulation and insurers' incentives to maintain extensive provider lists. The researchers recommend a centralized provider directory maintained by clinicians, accessible to insurers.",
  "summary": "Americans with commercial insurance are generally told they have access to a strong network of mental health providers. But when researchers called providers listed in those networks, securing an appointment was usually difficult or impossible, according to a new study.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}