UnitedHealthcare expands behavioral coaching program for youths

UnitedHealthcare is expanding its child and family behavioral coaching program, making it accessible to 13 million members under its commercial insurance plans. The initiative targets young individuals and families dealing with low-severity behavioral health issues, including mild anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, bullying, depression, and sleep disturbances.

The program emphasizes early intervention and education to avert potential concerns from escalating. Launched in 2023 for select fully insured health plan clients, the program has now been expanded to cover an additional 5 million individuals at no extra cost to their employers.

Patients enrolled in the program can benefit from up to four virtual coaching sessions every month, with appointments available within 48 hours. They also have access to unlimited secure messaging and educational materials, interacting with certified coaches who are supervised by licensed clinicians. Should additional high-level care be necessary, patients can be referred to a clinician through the program.

Donald Tavakoli, M.D., the national medical director for behavioral health at UnitedHealthcare, emphasized the importance of early intervention, stating, "Early intervention can make a meaningful difference in a person’s mental health journey." He explained that individuals receiving support for low-severity behavioral concerns early on might be less likely to develop more serious conditions later.

The program's average participant age is 12, according to UnitedHealthcare. An internal analysis from 2023 to 2025 indicated improvements in symptoms related to anxiety or depression through coaching. Additionally, the program boasts a net promoter score of 76, reflecting high member satisfaction.

The behavioral coaching program complements other UnitedHealthcare offerings, such as the mental health app Calm Health and around-the-clock phone support. Through Calm, members can access mental health screenings, therapy referrals, coaching, and daily self-care content. Members who completed at least two assessments through Calm saw an improvement in their depression and anxiety symptoms in nearly 40% of cases.

Moreover, UnitedHealthcare's 24/7 support center, manned by experts, strives to de-escalate issues in real-time and refer members to subsequent care options if needed. Notably, 57% of members who utilized the in-the-moment support line did not have a behavioral health claim within 90 days.

Rebecca Madsen, CEO of advocacy, behavioral, and clinical for UnitedHealthcare, commented on the expansion, stating, "This expansion reflects a broader effort to help make early access to behavioral health support easier." Her goal is to enable families to address mental health concerns before they worsen and to provide employers with additional resources to support their employees and their families.