Integrating medical and behavioral benefits for healthier employees and lower costs
Connecting medical and behavioral health benefits can help employees access health resources that support whole-person health.
As researchers discover more evidence supporting the mind-body connection,1 employers may consider offering benefits that integrate support for both mental and physical health. This integration may be critical to successfully meeting the growing need for behavioral health benefits, lessening the impact of comorbid conditions and delivering a simpler, more connected care experience.
“We're increasingly seeing the interrelation between behavioral health and physical health,” says Stacie Grassmuck, director of behavioral health product and innovation for UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual. “Our goal is to support these members with the information, resources and access to integrated care wherever they are on their behavioral health and physical health journey.”
Integrating benefits may also help employees better manage comorbidity, which is when a person has 2 or more conditions at the same time. For instance, a behavioral health condition can exacerbate a chronic condition, and vice versa:
- For those with rheumatoid arthritis, depression is linked to poorer outcomes2
- For cancer patients, research shows a correlation between anxiety and heightened risk of complications3
- People living with diabetes are up to 2.5 times more likely to experience sustained complications when they also have a mental health disorder4
In addition to outcomes, the financial burden of comorbid conditions can be staggering. For example, the presence of depression compared to those without depression drove:
- 49% higher costs when members had both diabetes and depression5
- 113% higher year-one treatment costs when members had both cancer and depression6
Comorbidity can also impact health care spend, especially when a chronic condition is coupled with a metabolic condition like diabetes. In fact, UnitedHealthcare data found that the average cost per claimant with a metabolic condition is $12,000, compared to $3,000 for members without a metabolic condition.4 That could be exacerbated if the effects of depression cause a lapse in condition management.
The UnitedHealthcare behavioral health care continuum can help mitigate the impact of comorbidity through a cross-benefits health care approach. This means being able to proactively screen and identify employees who may benefit from mental health support, even before the need for such support has been considered.
Bringing the concept of integrated benefits to life
Joe, 45, receives care for comorbid conditions.
- During a wellness visit, Joe’s primary care physician (PCP) discovers he has high blood pressure and refers him to a cardiologist for specialized management.
- When Joe calls to find a network cardiologist, an alert on the advocate’s dashboard prompts a recommendation to speak with a nurse case manager to help support Joe with managing his heart condition.
- The nurse case manager follows up with Joe to conduct a behavioral health screening, during which he screens positive for depression. This initiates a process to help Joe find mental health support.
- After several weeks of behavioral health coaching and a prescription from his provider, Joe is feeling better and more aware of his risk of depression. He uses the Calm Health app to log his daily moods and feels good about being able to monitor his mental health. Joe is confident that he has the tools and resources he needs to get additional support if his symptoms change.
Member profile and scenario are fictional. Health outcomes are not guaranteed.
Delivering a simpler, more connected care experience
With integrated medical and behavioral health benefits, employees may experience a more connected experience. For employers, that can often lead to healthier and happier employees, increased productivity and lower costs.
UnitedHealthcare Advocates, for instance, are trained to connect employees and members to clinical support through referrals to medical and behavioral clinicians and related programs.
They can connect them to programs like behavioral health coaching, which features structured cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques that help to strengthen coping skills and self-care, providing:
- 24/7 access to content via phone, tablet or computer
- 1-on-1 coaching sessions with online scheduling
- CBT modules for depression, anxiety, stress and coping skills
Also, with the Health Plan Manager™ tool, employers can view the overall health of their employee population, including the prevalence of comorbid conditions, and the effectiveness of health management programs. This deep look at health data can help employers consider plan design changes or deploy targeted interventions, if needed.
That’s the power of integrated medical and behavioral health benefits.
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