In recent years, mental health services for students have become a pressing issue across the United States. As the demand for mental health support increases, many students, especially those in underserved areas, face barriers to accessing the care they need. UnitedHealthcare has taken an important step in addressing this gap by partnering with Hazel Health, a digital healthcare provider focused on school-based services. This collaboration aims to provide essential mental health services for students, ensuring that all students, regardless of insurance status, have access to care.
This new partnership is not only a significant advancement in expanding access to mental health care but also a model for how healthcare can be integrated directly into the school environment. With UnitedHealthcare covering the startup costs of Hazel Health’s services in school districts, this initiative is set to reach thousands of students, regardless of their insurance provider.
Breaking Barriers to Mental Health Services for Students
One of the standout features of this partnership is that UnitedHealthcare will cover the costs for Hazel Health’s services, enabling mental health care for students from any health plan or without insurance coverage. This eliminates a significant barrier for students who would otherwise struggle to access mental health services. Krista Nelson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, highlighted the importance of this initiative in a recent blog post, stating that the partnership aims to reach up to 1 million students by 2025. This expansive goal will make mental health services for students more widely available and accessible than ever before.
Iowa: The First Step in Expanding Mental Health Services for Students
The first state to roll out this initiative is Iowa, where several school districts have already begun offering Hazel Health’s mental health services. Cities like Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Council Bluffs have been at the forefront of this effort, and this will serve as a testing ground for expanding mental health care for students across the nation. The success of this program in Iowa will be critical as UnitedHealthcare and Hazel Health look to expand their reach into other states, although specific states for expansion have yet to be confirmed.
By offering virtual mental health care services in schools, this program ensures that students who may face challenges in accessing traditional healthcare services—such as long wait times, transportation barriers, or lack of nearby providers—can still receive the support they need. The program’s focus on virtual care is especially important in making mental health services for students more accessible and efficient.
A Financial Commitment to Student Mental Health
UnitedHealthcare’s investment in Hazel Health is a crucial part of this collaboration. In June, UnitedHealthcare announced a $1.5 million investment to expand mental health care for students across Iowa. This funding will help cover the initial costs of implementing Hazel Health’s services in schools and ensure that they can continue to support students for years to come. Hazel Health has already reached over 4 million students across the country, but this new partnership represents an important leap forward in expanding access to mental health care for even more students.
Andrew Post, president of Hazel Health, described UnitedHealthcare’s involvement as a “sponsorship,” helping the company to deepen its impact in existing markets while also gaining access to new markets. With the backing of a major payer like UnitedHealthcare, Hazel Health will be able to expand its digital health services and continue to provide virtual mental health services to students who need it most.
Schools as Critical Locations for Mental Health Services for Students
The model behind Hazel Health is rooted in the idea that schools are ideal environments to provide health care services. As Post pointed out, “Mental health care is six times more likely to get to children through schools.” This insight underscores the importance of integrating mental health care into the school setting, where students already spend a large part of their day. By providing mental health services for students in schools, this initiative removes the logistical barriers that might prevent students from seeking care, such as having to leave school for an appointment or dealing with long wait times in traditional healthcare settings.
Hazel Health’s digital model allows students to connect with healthcare providers through virtual consultations, making it easier than ever for students to get the help they need. Virtual care allows for more flexibility, making it possible for students to access mental health services in a way that fits their schedules and lives. With schools being the most consistent and accessible environment for children, it is only natural that they become a central hub for providing mental health care for students.
Expanding Access and the Future of Pediatric Mental Health
Hazel Health’s partnership with UnitedHealthcare is part of a broader trend toward using digital health solutions to expand access to mental health care. The company’s school-centered approach is reflective of a growing recognition that the traditional healthcare system may not always be able to meet the needs of young people, particularly in underserved areas. With funding from UnitedHealthcare and an already established presence in schools across the country, Hazel Health is well-positioned to continue its mission of improving access to mental health services for students nationwide.
The partnership is also a part of a larger movement to bring behavioral health services into the public sector. Other virtual care providers, such as Uwill, have seen tremendous success in partnering with educational institutions to offer mental health services for students. By using schools as a base for providing care, these organizations are able to rapidly expand their reach and meet the growing demand for mental health services.
Looking Toward the Future: More Mental Health Services for Students Nationwide
The success of UnitedHealthcare’s collaboration with Hazel Health in Iowa marks just the beginning of a much larger initiative. Over the coming years, this partnership is expected to expand into additional states, with the ultimate goal of providing mental health care for students in 14 states by 2025. This could represent a seismic shift in how mental health care is delivered to children, with schools becoming primary centers for access to care.
As the program grows, it is likely that other health plans and insurance providers will follow suit, expanding the availability of mental health services for students in schools across the country. UnitedHealthcare’s investment in this program is an important step in recognizing the critical need for mental health services for students and committing resources to address it.
By integrating mental health care into schools and making it more accessible through virtual consultations, UnitedHealthcare and Hazel Health are paving the way for a future where every student has the support they need to thrive both academically and emotionally. This partnership not only helps address the immediate needs of students struggling with mental health challenges but also sets the stage for a more resilient and mentally healthy generation in the years to come.
In conclusion, the partnership between UnitedHealthcare and Hazel Health is an exciting development in the effort to improve mental health care for students. With the promise of making these services more accessible, more effective, and more widely available, it represents a bright future for the mental health care of young people across the United States. As this program expands, it will undoubtedly become a model for future healthcare initiatives aimed at supporting the well-being of students everywhere.
