Have an adult child who’s 18 or older who’s struggling with mental health conditions? Here’s a way to get them the help they may need, virtually.

Your 18-year-old has a bad breakup, and you do your best to make them feel better. But at dinner more than 2 weeks later, they reveal that they’re still feeling blue and can’t get over their sadness. That could mean that they’re dealing with depression.

So what’s your next move? You might find it challenging to navigate the mental health space, especially when it comes to deciding where to take your adult child. Do they need talk therapy or help with medication management? (Talk therapy is a type of treatment that involves talking with a licensed professional about your thoughts, feelings and behaviors.) Adding difficulty to the situation, providers may not always be a convenient distance away or it may take weeks to get an appointment.

That’s where telehealth comes in. A recent study showed that 80% of mental health clinics offered virtual visits or telehealth options. And for adults 18 and older, there are even more options through healthcare providers. Find out more below.

Need to get help for an adult child 18 or older with depression or anxiety? Mental Health Complete Plus, which is not insurance, offers direct access to mental health providers via phone, video or app.

How common is it for adults 18 and older to have mental health issues?

About 17% of adults 18 and older experience mental health issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• 12.5% of adults 18 and older in the U.S. have “regular feelings of worry, nervousness or anxiety.”
• 5% of adults 18 and older in the U.S. experience “regular feelings of depression.”

If you have health insurance and your adult child is still on your plan, it’s a good idea to look for an in-network provider. That may be the least expensive option.

You may find that some healthcare providers offer alternatives to in-person care. We’ll investigate what that looks like in the next section.

What is telehealth for mental health?

Telehealth for mental health is a way for you or a family member to see a mental health professional without having to leave your home. Typically, you’ll meet with them over a secured video, phone or an app on your favorite digital device (data rates may apply) — like a smartphone, tablet or computer — and they’ll conduct a talk therapy session. In many cases, they can also prescribe medication virtually, too.

It's worth noting that you may want to see different mental health providers for different needs. For example, psychiatrists have a medical degree and can prescribe medication. Psychologists, on the other hand, usually have a PhD or PsyD. They typically conduct talk therapy sessions and, in some states, may be able to prescribe medication.

Many health insurance plans offer telehealth benefits. But others don’t, so it’s important to check your plan’s brochure or website to see what benefits are available.

Finding a mental health provider is important. With a virtual care membership, you can get unlimited access to therapy, coaching and online resources. Explore Mental Health Complete Plus today.

Can my child receive mental health help if they’re no longer on my health plan?

Yes. If your child has aged out of your health insurance plan — typically when they turn 26 — they still have some options:

• They could buy an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace or through a private insurer. The government law of the same name requires most health plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder services. It’s worth noting that not all ACA plans offer telehealth services, so it’s important to research plans’ benefits before choosing one.

• If they buy a health plan that doesn’t offer telehealth, they still have options. UnitedHealthcare, for example, offers Teladoc Health’s non-insurance plan called Mental Health Complete Plus for people 18 and older. It provides you the ability to set up virtual appointments with mental health providers 7 days a week, along with personalized care plans and online resources.
  
  Through Mental Health Complete Plus, people can also set up 24/7 telehealth visits with general medicine providers for non-life-threatening situations, like allergies or a sore throat, and connect with a dermatologist (skin doctor) for issues like acne or rashes. Plans start at $59.99 a month.

Can I add my spouse to my virtual mental health plan?

Yes. You can add your spouse. You also can add children under 18 to a virtual mental health plan so they can use the general medicine and dermatology visits.

Is virtual mental health access worth it?

It can be worth it if your traditional health insurance plan doesn’t offer telehealth benefits. It might also be helpful if you:

• Have a busy schedule and need the flexibility of seeing providers when you want
• Live in a rural area that’s not close to mental health providers
• Have mobility issues
• Have younger children who you can’t leave without setting up childcare
• Feel more comfortable talking about personal things in the privacy of your own home than in person.

Whatever the case, a non-insurance option like Mental Health Complete Plus could come in handy for you and your family. Find out more by calling a licensed insurance agent at 1-844-211-7730 for more information.

For informational purposes only. This information is compiled by UnitedHealthcare, and/or one of its affiliates, and does not diagnose problems or recommend specific treatment. Services and medical technologies referenced herein may not be covered under your plan. Please consult directly with your primary care physician if you need medical advice. 

If you need immediate crisis help, do not wait, call 911 or call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide/Crisis Lifeline Hotline. This membership has a 3-day (72-hour) wait after enrollment before services, like crisis management, can be used.

MENTAL HEALTH COMPLETE PLUS IS NOT HEALTH INSURANCE AND WE ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE INSURANCE FROM A RESPONSIBLE PROVIDER. HEALTHIESTYOU IS DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT, AND NOT REPLACE THE CARE YOU RECEIVE FROM YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN. MENTAL HEALTH COMPLETE PLUS PHYSICIANS ARE AN INDEPENDENT NETWORK OF DOCTORS WHO ADVISE, DIAGNOSE, AND PRESCRIBE AT THEIR OWN DISCRETION. PHYSICIANS PROVIDE CROSS COVERAGE AND OPERATE SUBJECT TO STATE REGULATIONS. PHYSICIANS IN THE INDEPENDENT NETWORK DO NOT PRESCRIBE DEA CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, NONTHERAPEUTIC DRUGS AND CERTAIN OTHER DRUGS WHICH MAY BE HARMFUL BECAUSE OF THEIR POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE. HEALTHIESTYOU DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT A PRESCRIPTION WILL BE WRITTEN.

Mental Health Complete Plus by Teladoc Health and UnitedHealthcare are not affiliated and each entity is responsible for its own contractual and financial obligations.

Mental Health Complete Plus is not insurance and is not associated with any other insurance product for which you are applying.

© 2021 Teladoc, Inc. All rights reserved. Teladoc and the Teladoc logo are registered trademarks of Teladoc, Inc. and may not be used without written permission. Teladoc does not replace the primary care physician. Teladoc does not guarantee that a prescription will be written. Teladoc operates subject to state regulation and may not be available in certain states. Teladoc does not prescribe DEA controlled substances, non-therapeutic drugs and certain other drugs which may be harmful because of their potential for abuse. Teladoc physicians reserve the right to deny care for potential misuse of services.

Mental Health visits are not available 24/7/365. Mental Health visits will be scheduled.

Mental Health visits are not available to minors. All Mental Health specialists may not be available in all states.

Source list:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Mental health.” October 2, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/mental-health.htm

JAMA Health Forum. “Availability of Mental Telehealth Services in the US.” February 2, 2024. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38306092/

National Institute of Mental Health. “Depression.” Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression. Accessed January 29, 2025.

Compliance code:
51945-X-0225