ADVERTISEMENT
Struggle to Understand Plan Benefits Keeping Many From Accessing Mental Health Services
Findings in a report published this week by Amwell suggest that a main barrier to treatment for working US adults in need of behavioral healthcare services is confusion regarding the benefits included in their employer-sponsored health insurance plan.
About 1500 employed adults in the US—a group that was representative of all ages, regions, races, ethnicities, and types of work, as defined in the US Census—were surveyed by Regina Corso Consulting on behalf of Amwell. The survey found that 85% of respondents do not use their mental health benefits. Among the reasons, respondents cited: not being aware of what mental health benefits are included in their plan, uncertainty over how to access their benefits, or benefits are generally confusing.
“Health plan leaders and employers need to improve and accelerate education so employees fully understand what benefits are available and how to use them,” Amwell wrote in its report. “Simply providing more comprehensive solutions to meet the spectrum of needs is not enough; the mental health benefits should be clearly detailed. Finally, health plans and employers should partner with solutions that can deliver engaging and personalized experiences, including support in validating coverage and finding in-network providers.”
Workers expressed a willingness to engage with mental health treatment services—90% said they are no longer concerned about stigma—but about half said there was a waiting period before they could make use of their mental health benefits. Digitally based treatment options piqued the interest of survey respondents, who expressed the following:
- 53% listed digital programs as their preferred method to self-manage mental health;
- 40% reported a desire for their health plan to provide access to online mental health programs that can be accessed at any time;
- Nearly 40% also said they wanted improved access to live, online counseling sessions and the ability to chat and/or text with a mental health professional; and
- 67% said they would be willing to use wellbeing or mental health benefits if they were digitally accessible.
“The survey results demonstrate how health plan leaders can continue to support members: Offer impactful benefits, and make mental health benefits personalized, digitally accessible and easy to understand,” Amwell Chief Behavioral Officer Ken Cahill said in a news release. “As more people seek hybrid care options that allow them to access treatment via multiple points and channels, flexibility, and access will be critical to achieving a healthier population.”
References
