The Impact of Mental and Behavioral Health Claims on Your Plan Spend

Today, employees are increasingly grappling with mental and behavioral health challenges such as burnout, stress and anxiety, as well as other diagnosable mental health disorders and conditions. These issues not only affect personal well-being but also impact workplace productivity and morale.

Many employers today offer mental health-related benefits, such as employee assistance programs (EAPs), wellness programs, access to mental health services through health care plans, and sick or mental health leave. Offering benefits that support employee mental health can provide workers with access to the resources they need. Organizations who are proactive in implementing strategies that educate employees, often see improved utilization of these benefits and reach employees effectively, helping achieve positive outcomes.

The Importance of Mental Health Benefits

The modern workplace presents numerous stressors, including heavy workloads, tight deadlines, and the pressure to balance professional and personal responsibilities. A recent survey by Carrier Management highlighted that between 80% and 83% of employees experience work-related stress, with many concerned over how this stress impacts their home life and overall well-being.

Burnout has become prevalent across numerous industries and role types, impacting every layer of an organization. Factors such as long working hours, lack of control over tasks and insufficient support contribute to this condition. For instance, professionals in high-demand sectors like law and health care often face intense pressure, leading to severe burnout and associated health issues. It should be noted that not all mental health conditions are a result of the workplace; diagnosed mental health conditions have been on the rise around the globe—regardless of the cause.

The trends in increased diagnoses and the total number of Americans being impacted by these conditions is also being reflected in an increase in the amount of healthcare dollars spent trying to treat these conditions.

The AssuredPartners team reviewed our own data to evaluate if we are seeing consistent themes – and we are. Anxiety related costs are continuing to trend upwards from April of 2020, increasing from $6.00 PEPM in April of 2020 to more than doubling to just over $12 PEPM as of our latest data in October of 2024.