UnitedHealthcare Expands Behavioral Coaching for Youths to 13 Million

UnitedHealthcare is expanding its behavioral coaching program for youths to cover an additional 5 million members, bringing the total number of covered individuals to 13 million. The program aims to support young people and families in dealing with low-severity behavioral health needs, such as anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, bullying, depression, and sleep difficulties.

The program, which was first introduced in 2023, provides patients with up to four virtual coaching sessions per month, unlimited secure messaging, and access to educational resources. Certified coaches supervised by licensed clinicians are available to support participants. If a patient needs more high-level care, they can be referred to a clinician through the program.

Early intervention is key to preventing potential concerns from worsening, said Donald Tavakoli, M.D., national medical director for behavioral health at UnitedHealthcare. He noted that individuals who receive support for low-severity behavioral concerns early on may be less likely to develop more serious conditions later.