UnitedHealthcare is a platform that provides healthcare benefits and coverage services under the UnitedHealth Group Inc. The company offers various services such as medicaid plans, health coverage, short-term health insurance, and medicare plans to its members in the United States and other countries. UnitedHealthcare is one of the largest health carriers in the United States, as it has a dominating presence across all states, providing a variety of healthcare insurance plans.
Why should you have insurance?
Healthcare expenditure in the United States is higher than in any other developed country, and it is projected to increase significantly without yielding any beneficial outcomes. According to a 2023 study by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, the main causes of rising healthcare costs are population aging and growth, the rise in chronic illnesses, and the cost of healthcare services and products.
As per recent studies, depression is among some of the health conditions associated with high medication and medical service costs required for remediation. If you are not insured, then the cost of mental health therapy could imply high out-of-pocket expenses along with the additional cost burden of diagnostic tests and medication.
The estimated out-of-pocket cost of a full psychiatric consultation could be more than $500 and around $200 for a regular visit. While the total cost of the appointment depends on various factors such as the city of residence, place of visit, experience, and expertise of the psychiatrist, initial visits can certainly be more costly.
With healthcare costs on the rise, getting a suitable health insurance plan becomes vital to safeguard your financial interests without compromising on quality care.
Healthcare coverage provided by UnitedHealthcare
Offering a comprehensive spectrum of health benefits, UnitedHealthcare makes high-quality care accessible, makes insurance more affordable, and streamlines the medical process. The four divisions that make up UnitedHealthcare are Community & State, Employer & Individual, Medicare & Retirement, and Global.
- Community & state- UnitedHealthcare Community & State is committed to offering a range of health care benefit products and services to approximately 8.1 million Americans through programs that support the underprivileged in terms of income, access to care, and lack of employer-sponsored health insurance.
- Employer & individual- Offering a wide range of consumer-focused health benefit plans and services across the country, UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual provides more than 27.2 million Americans with coverage for major national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized organizations, small businesses, and individuals.
- Global- Outside of the US, UnitedHealthcare Global offers benefits and medical services to around 7.7 million people. This company provides services to governments, individuals and their families, insurers and re-insurers, as well as local and worldwide corporations.
- Medicare & retirement- The mission of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement is to support the health and wellbeing of approximately 13.7 million seniors and other Medicare-eligible people.
Who is a psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists are health specialists who provide mental health care by integrating both mental and physical aspects associated with various diseases. They are experts in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions affecting patients of all ages. Psychiatrists practice in various settings, including nursing homes, emergency departments, mental health clinics, private practices, and even courts and prisons.
Most psychiatric appointments entail a thorough diagnosis of the patient's physical and mental symptoms, along with a close examination of the patient’s family and medical history. These professionals create customized treatment plans for their patients by incorporating treatment modalities like talk therapy, light therapy, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and medication.
Depending on the nature and severity of the condition, a psychiatrist may help in treating personality disorders, sleep issues, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, gender dysphoria, drug addiction, and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.
Why should you visit a psychiatrist?
There are many different mental health issues, and not all of them require medication as a form of treatment. Most patients initially see a psychologist or counselor, who may refer them to a psychiatrist if needed. However, you should consider consulting a psychiatrist if you have been experiencing any of the following:
- Disruptions in sleep patterns
- Excessive or constant worrying
- Lasting grief
- Eating disorders
- Substance abuse
- Hallucinations
- Thoughts of self-harm
- Social withdrawal
- Poor concentration
- Emotional outbursts
- Difficulty managing thoughts and emotions
- Frequent depressive episodes
- Loss of appetite
How to find a psychiatrist near you who accepts UnitedHealthcare
Your quality of life may be negatively impacted by a variety of physical and psychological symptoms that affect your capacity to function in social, professional, and personal domains. Suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, stress, sleeplessness, lethargy, changes in appetite or weight, and frequent emotional breakdowns are a few signs. Do not hesitate to seek help; the sooner you see a professional, the sooner you will feel better.
With Zocdoc, you can book appointments with top-rated psychiatrists near you in minutes! Zocdoc boasts a comprehensive search interface that helps narrow your search by assisting targeted queries based on your location, symptoms, insurance carrier, date, and specialty. If you are specifically looking for a psychiatrist near you who takes UnitedHealthcare, just choose your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. If you’re unsure about your plan, you can use Zocdoc’s insurance checker to find out.
After performing this targeted search, Zocdoc will curate a list of all the providers in your area who take UnitedHealthcare. What's more, you can even view their real-time availability along with patient reviews and ratings.
Once you are satisfied with a psychiatrist's profile, you can book your appointment with them. Booking with Zocdoc is easy, secure, and 100% free!
Mental health in the United States
According to the findings published by Mental Health America, almost 20.78% of adults reported having a mental illness in 2019–2020. It is the same as more than 50 million Americans. Of all adults with a mental disorder, over a third (28.2%) said they could not get the treatment they required. Adults with any mental illness (AMI) who were unable to pay for necessary care indicated this as a factor 42% of the time. This further goes to highlight the fact that among adults with a mental disease, 10.8% (or more than 5.5 million) do not have insurance.
On a more positive note, UnitedHealth Group surpassed Anthem and Aetna as the biggest health insurance provider in the United States in 2021. In that year, 70 million Americans—roughly one in five—became UnitedHealth members, illustrating the increasing public enrollment in healthcare plans and insurance.
Sources
GlobalData
American Psychiatric Association
WebMD
Mira
Verywellmind
Talkspace
Investopedia[1]
Investopedia[2]
Mental Health America
Statista
UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealthcare
