Employers Boosting Telehealth Benefits in Record Numbers

According to a?report?released Nov. 10 by the?Kaiser Family Foundation, most organizations have boosted their telehealth benefits for their employees since the COVID outbreak began, with one out of every ten big companies signing new contracts with telehealth providers. The Kaiser Family Foundation survey?results were based on responses from nearly 1,700 small and large employers?from January to July 2021.

Survey Findings: Telehealth Benefits During PHE

According to the?survey, 39% of mid-and large businesses have changed their mental health support and telehealth benefits since the PHE’s inception. The majority of these adjustments allowed employees to obtain mental health care through telehealth.

Telehealth?Benefits For the Employees

• Employees appear to be utilizing telehealth benefits. The utilization of mental health benefits increased in 12% of organizations with 50 or more employees, while in companies with 1,000 or more employees, it increased by 38%.
• Virtual counseling services expanded by 43% of those organizations, 22% modified existing programs to be delivered remotely, and 17% established a digital program.
• Reflecting larger coverage patterns throughout the U.S, 65% of organizations reported telehealth benefits changes.
• 31% of employers expanded coverage for additional modes of delivering telemedicine, such as by telephone.
• Companies provide telehealth benefits, 50% with smaller employers and 27% of the larger employers,?reduced or eliminated cost-sharing for telehealth services.?
• In companies with 50 or more employees providing telemedicine benefits, 20% offer telemedicine services through a specialized telemedicine service provider, such as Teledoc, Doctor on Demand, or MDLIVE.
• In 59% of companies that offer services through their health plan, 17% offer services through a specialized telemedicine provider and their health plan, and 4% provide services through some other arrangement.

Premiums For Families Rise by 4%

Even though clients used fewer healthcare services last year, average rates for family plans increased by 4%.?According to the?survey, the insurance premium for a family plan has surpassed $22,000. This year, workers contributed an average of $5,969, with their employer paying the remainder.

In conclusion, several organizations changed telehealth benefits for their employees’ mental and behavioral wellness and provided opportunities for proper care.

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