Telehealth is Rising. Mental Healthcare Isn’t Always Going With It

The rise of telehealth has been a boon to patients. It’s given them wider range of specialists to pick from and made the question “how am I going to get to the doctor?” less of a concern.

And while many Americans have begun using telehealth for mental wellness, some insurers have cut back on the coverage of these services as states began terminating special rules surrounding telehealth and the pandemic. With these restrictions lessening, many specialists are being urged to go back to in-person visits.

Many U.S. states are weighing whether to continue telehealth, leading to contentious debates. For example, a telehealth expansion bill passed through the New Jersey State House unanimously in 2021, but it remained unsigned on the governor’s desk for several weeks, putting residents’ healthcare access at risk.

Whether patients can pay for their care often has a strong bearing on whether they will pursue treatment. Insurance is a critical factor influencing patients’ ability to receive care. PYMNTS’ research found that 15% of patients with insurance sought behavioral health specialists’ services in the last year, compared to just 6% of uninsured patients. The size of this gap underscores how important insurance coverage can be.

However, having insurance is not always a guarantee of free and easy care. Although our study found that 90% of patients carry health insurance, policies frequently do not cover their entire bills. Our research also found that insured patients spend an average of $794 on healthcare visits per year on top of their healthcare premiums.

And even when consumers have health insurance, their preferred mental health professionals may not accept their policies, leading to further obstacles. Of the one-third of patients who reported avoiding needed appointments or treatments, 11% reported the most important reason they did so was that their insurance would not cover it, while an another 5% said the most important reason was they did not trust their insurance to cover it.

For more on how telehealth and digital payments can expand access to mental health care, download the PYMNTS’ Digital Care Connection Playbook.