A National Survey of Student Extended Health Insurance Programs in Postsecondary Institutions in Canada: Limited Support for Students With Mental Health Problems

During the young adult years (ages 18 to 25 years), many young people participate in postsecondary education. Mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and substance misuse are especially common in this age range. The purpose of this study was to survey the extended health insurance plans available to undergraduate students at colleges and universities across Canada to evaluate the extent of coverage for prescription medication and for psychotherapy and counselling services. Information from 210 postsecondary institutions was collected. Sixty-eight percent of universities and 41% of colleges provided private extended health insurance. For those institutions with these plans, the amount of coverage for prescription medication would adequately cover the yearly average cost of most medication treatments for problems such as anxiety or depressive disorders. Seventy-one percent of plans had maximum coverage of at least $3,000 a year and 28% had no maximums. Sixty-nine percent of universities and 28% of colleges have plans that provide coverage for psychotherapy. For institutions with this coverage, the modal level of total coverage was in the range of $300 to $500 per year. Very few plans provide sufficient coverage for the psychological treatment of common mental health problems. Recommendations are made for improving the support available for students with mental health problems through extended health insurance plans and the development of campus-wide plans for mental health promotion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)