The healthcare landscape has experienced a remarkable transformation over the past few years, with telehealth behavioral health emerging as a powerful tool in delivering mental health services remotely. Among UnitedHealthcare members, the use of telehealth saw an extraordinary surge in 2021, with virtual care visits reaching a staggering 28 million. This represents a 2,500% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels. Behavioral health issues made up about half of those visits, highlighting how critical virtual care has become in addressing mental health needs. According to a report by healthleadersmedia.com, 63% of all behavioral health visits within UnitedHealthcare’s network were conducted via telehealth in 2021, underscoring a significant shift in patient and provider preferences.
Behavioral Health Leads the Telehealth Revolution
The rise in telehealth use is especially pronounced in behavioral health. In 2021, about 66% of all behavioral health claims through UnitedHealthcare were for virtual care services. This is a dramatic leap from 2019, when only 1.5% of behavioral health claims were for telehealth, according to UnitedHealthcare’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Donna O’Shea. The rapid adoption of telehealth behavioral health services reflects not only the urgency of care during the pandemic but also the convenience and accessibility telehealth provides, which continue to resonate with patients and providers alike.
UnitedHealthcare’s Influence in Telehealth Growth
UnitedHealthcare, part of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group Inc., is the largest health insurer in the United States, holding approximately 15% of the U.S. market share according to the American Medical Association. The company serves around 51 million people worldwide. The scale of UnitedHealthcare’s membership means its telehealth trends offer valuable insight into broader national shifts. Dr. O’Shea noted that virtual care visits in 2021 roughly matched the volume seen in 2020, with telehealth utilization remaining high through 2022. This consistency indicates that telehealth behavioral health is no longer a temporary solution but a permanent fixture in healthcare delivery, particularly for behavioral health.
The Pandemic’s Role in Accelerating Telehealth Adoption
The COVID-19 pandemic was a catalyst for telehealth’s rapid rise, as government mandates and safety concerns pushed patients and providers away from in-person visits. Behavioral health care especially benefited from this shift, as many patients sought support while adhering to social distancing. Prior to the pandemic, telehealth represented less than 1% of outpatient visits for mental health and substance use disorders in the U.S. Yet, from March to August 2020 alone, this figure skyrocketed to 40%, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). This trend largely stabilized at around 36% through the same period in 2021, showing that telehealth’s popularity remains strong even as pandemic restrictions eased.
Telehealth Adoption Across Demographics
Telehealth’s appeal cuts across age groups and populations. The federal government reported a 32-fold increase (3,090%) in telebehavioral health visits among Medicare beneficiaries in 2020 compared to 2019. This massive growth illustrates telehealth’s capacity to expand access to mental health services for older adults, a demographic that often faces barriers to in-person care. Younger populations have also embraced virtual behavioral health options, benefiting from the convenience and privacy telehealth affords. The widespread acceptance of telehealth behavioral health across diverse groups speaks to its potential to reduce longstanding disparities in mental health care access.
Implications for Behavioral Health Providers
The telehealth boom presents both opportunities and challenges for behavioral health providers. Many organizations have successfully integrated virtual care into their service offerings and continue to operate with higher telehealth volumes than before the pandemic. Some providers are simultaneously expanding their physical clinic footprints to serve a broader range of patient preferences. However, not all growth is unchecked. Lifestance Health, a leading mental health provider, is scaling back new physical expansions in 2022, signaling a strategic focus on sustainable growth. Meanwhile, telehealth-focused companies like Iris Telehealth are attracting significant investment, recently securing $40 million in Series B funding to scale their telepsychiatry services. These trends underscore a maturing market where providers balance virtual and in-person care to meet evolving demand.
The Future of Telehealth in Behavioral Health
The surge in telehealth utilization among UnitedHealthcare members mirrors a broader, lasting transformation in healthcare. Telehealth behavioral health has proven its value in delivering behavioral health services by improving access, enhancing convenience, and supporting continuity of care during unprecedented times. As the healthcare industry moves forward, telehealth is poised to remain a vital component of behavioral health treatment strategies, enabling providers to reach more patients effectively and patients to receive timely care in settings that best suit their needs.
With its demonstrated ability to overcome traditional barriers such as geography, transportation, and stigma, virtual treatment in behavioral health stands ready to reshape how behavioral health care is delivered — making quality mental health support more accessible to millions.
