2020 has been one of the most interesting periods in human history. There is a pandemic that has brought the world to a standstill; for a while, countries had closed their borders and international flights were banned. Although everyone is coming to terms with the current situation, things will never be the same. For example, some organizations plan to restructure and create permanent remote positions. Social distancing has also become the new normal. When in public, you have to maintain social distance.
These measures are put in place to control the spread of the pandemic and are beneficial to the public. Sadly, the situation has increased the number of mental health cases in the country. People are worried about the future, anxious because they don’t know what to expect, and depressed since they feel restricted by movement regulations.
According to a study by the United Nations, the number of mental health cases has been gradually rising. The situation could get worse because most people are afraid of going to the hospital or visiting a psychiatrist. They don’t want to risk getting the virus. Luckily, one company has been doing its best to help mental health patients. The company is called Talkspace.
Founded in 2012, Talkspace is a tech company that connects mental health patients with licensed healthcare professionals through the internet. It helps mental health patients get remote healthcare services from qualified individuals.
The company has more than one million users and thousands of licensed therapists ready to help those that sign up for the program. The main objective of the company is to help people live happier lives free from stress and depression by giving them access to professional mental health services. The firm also hopes to end the stigma associated with mental health. Since the patient receives the service from home, they safeguard their privacy and protect themselves from stigmatization.
Medical insurance companies have recognized the need for mental health services and increased coverage for current and future clients. Talkspace has also increased coverage. In April, the company launched the Digital Employee Assistance Program. The service targets employees because they are the most affected; many of them are afraid of losing their jobs. The Digital Employee Assistance Program or EAP provides self-guided cognitive therapy, live online video therapy sessions, exercise suggestions for mental health patients, diet suggestions, educational documents and videos, legal and financial advice, and emergency services for free to all registered members.
There is another reason the company started EAP. The firm wanted to help employers find an affordable way to deal with employee mental health issues. The company has also partnered with insurance companies to increase reach and encourage more people to use their platform. The main insurance partners are Humera, Premera Blue Cross Shield, Optum, and Signa.
If you want to access EAP coverage as a new member, you need an authorization key from your employer. If you want to experience individual coverage, you should provide your Member ID. After everything has been verified, you can go on to the next stage. Before the company gives you therapist suggestions, they have to understand your needs. To do that, they will give you a short assessment. From there, you can choose a therapist of your choice and begin the healing.
If you are an existing user that wants to shift to the platform’s insurance, you should ask for an eligibility form from your therapist. Please note that some therapists prefer direct cash payments instead of insurance. If that’s the case, you’ll continue paying that therapist directly. If your therapist accepts insurance, fill in all your details in the questionnaire, and wait for approval. If you’re approved, the company creates a new ‘room’ on your account. You must click on it and reselect your therapist to complete the process.
EAP coverage has helped 40 million Americans get affordable health insurance. This company is shaping the future of mental health consultations by keeping everybody safe and happy because patients don’t have to leave their homes to access the service.