Healthcare Trends Expected to Continue Throughout 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic had far-reaching impacts in 2020, which required the healthcare industry to rapidly adapt and expand options for accessing care as new restrictions and protocols emerged to help protect Americans from the virus. As we start the new year with exciting developments regarding vaccines, here are a few healthcare trends impacting the ancillary benefits market that will continue.

According to data from our LiveHealth Online^® telehealth platform, visits to access behavioral health services more than doubled between April to August 2020 compared to 2019, with the average user visiting 6.7 times. More than one-in-four of these users were diagnosed with either anxiety disorders or reaction to severe stress and adjustment disorders. 

The trends that we saw in 2020 are likely to continue as a Kaiser Family Foundation poll suggests that the pandemic will have both short- and long-term implications for mental health and substance abuse. Mental health should always be a top priority, but the healthcare industry should recognize the potential for increased demand for access to behavioral and mental healthcare, both virtually and in-person, for those who will be added to the existing population.

With Americans now more conscious of the relationship between their physical and mental health, and nearly half relying on their employers for health insurance, we expect more employers to integrate health benefits promoting whole person health and improving health outcomes for employees. In fact, Anthem’s most recent biennial Integrated Health Care Survey (IHC) found that 56 percent of employers are now actively integrating their benefit programs, up from 33 percent in 2016. 

An important component within integrated benefits is the role of comprehensive disability insurance packages that offer mental and behavioral health resources for employees and their families. These Employee Assistant Programs (EAP) are intended to prevent burnout and better track mental health’s impact on physical conditions, especially considering about one-third of physical disability claims also involve a mental health component. 

By using an integrated approach, employers may streamline medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, disability, supplemental and Employee Assistance Program benefits, usually through one carrier, to encourage communication between healthcare professionals. This enables them to better diagnose and treat health conditions, and identify potential gaps in care based on a patient’s shared health history. For example, research has linked periodontal disease with the risk of cardiovascular disease—the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S.—primarily due to infection from the mouth entering the bloodstream and reaching the heart. Additionally, integrated health connects pharmacy data, helping to reduce opioid prescriptions by giving healthcare providers insight into patients’ prescriptions from other providers.

Not only does integrating benefits ensure employees are receiving more personalized and effective care, but it helps employers by increasing productivity and lowering healthcare costs by better addressing absenteeism and supporting work/life balance.

Driven by personalized, data-rich digital technologies, the rise of telehealth means consumers can access care where, when and how they want it. Not only is this more convenient and affordable, but it provides a means to access care without potential exposure to coronavirus. 

While it will not replace in-person visits when needed, telehealth provides an easy first step to resolve a health issue, especially for those in remote areas or those seeking care after business hours and on weekends. For example, teledentistry has gained popularity to help address patient concerns and manage pain virtually by using video chat to receive a remote examination from their dentist, evaluate the need for immediate in-person intervention or prescribe medication if necessary.

As the utilization of virtual healthcare grows, it will be important for physicians to continue integrating more technology into their office practices to make it easier for individuals to access services through online scheduling, and to access their health records digitally. Providers and carriers can use data, predictive analytics and Artificial Intelligence to create a personalized experience for patients. Through offering a patient-facing portal or app that they can access 24/7, patients will be educated about health risks and next steps in their treatment plan to understand their health and help their providers close any care gaps. 

As we continue navigating the pandemic, and what’s to come in the aftermath in terms of access and delivery of care, 2021 will be another important year for the healthcare industry.
 

Jeff Spahr is the vice president of Specialty Business Development at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.