Suicide Prevention Resources for At-Risk Patients September 21, 2022

Content provided by UnitedHealthcare Community & State District of Columbia

September is Suicide Prevention month, and the District Dual Choice Program has a wide range of resources available to aid enrollees during these difficult times including a 24/7 Nurse Line. Even though suicide is not classified as a mental illness, most often mental illness is the leading cause of suicide. Mental illnesses such as substance abuse disorders, depression, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia have all been linked to suicide.

Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by mental health issues each year. (1) In fact, 1 in 5 older adults over age 55 has some type of mental health concern.(2) For dual-eligible individuals (people who qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare) the problem is even bigger. For example, did you know that:

1. 41% of dual eligible individuals have at least one mental condition (3)
2. Nearly half of the under-65 dual-eligible population have severe mental disorders (4)
   

Dual eligibles are also more likely to have serious long-term health problems compared to those who have either just Medicare or just Medicaid.(5) That includes diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease.

What’s more, dual eligibles have to navigate both the Medicaid and Medicare health care programs. This can make it harder for them to find their way and get care and support services they may need. That’s where a dual-eligible health plan can help.

So how can the District Dual Choice Program help individuals who are in need of behavioral help assistance? Behavioral health is as important as physical health. That’s why behavioral health services (also called mental health services) is one of the many extra benefits that are included with most dual-eligible health plans from UnitedHealthcare.*

Dual health plans (also called Dual Special Needs Plans or D-SNPs) are a type of Medicare plan. They’re for people who have both Medicaid and Medicare. Dual health plans can help simplify care and help make life easier for dual-eligible enrollees.

Many people who are dually eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare have serious, ongoing health conditions. They may need to see a number of different doctors and specialists. That could also include therapists, counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, or other behavioral health doctors to help with mental health challenges.

A dual-eligible health plan can make it easier to manage a wide variety of care providers. Dual health plans can help you find a psychiatrist or other mental health provider near you. If necessary, dual plans can help coordinate mental health and substance use disorder treatment services with physical health care services. It takes a lot of time and effort juggling multiple appointments, plus all the paperwork from Medicaid and Medicare. A dual health plan can help keep everything straight.

For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare.

1 National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health By the Numbers. Last updated March, 2021. Accessed September 15, 2021.

2 https://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/mental_health.pdf Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. The State of Mental Health and Aging in America Issue Brief 1: What Do the Data Tell Us? Atlanta, GA: National Association of Chronic Disease Directors; 2008. Accessed September 15, 2021.

3 https://www.cms.gov/files/document/reporttocongressmmco.pdf FY 2020 Report to Congress. Accessed September 15, 2021.

4 Justice in Aging, Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Dual Eligibles: An Opportunity for Advocates Denny Chan May 24, 2016. Accessed September 15, 2021.

5 https://www.cms.gov/files/document/reporttocongressmmco.pdf FY 2020 Report to Congress. Accessed September 15, 2021

6 Not all medical conditions can be treated through telehealth. The telehealth doctor will identify if you need to see an in-person doctor for treatment.

*Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations and exclusions apply.