More people want behavioral health services than ever before — one in four seek mental health support each year[i] — but access hasn't kept pace. Annually, 27 million Americans with a diagnosed mental health condition go untreated.[ii] Left unaddressed, these needs may escalate, leading to more costly interventions like an emergency room visit or inpatient stay.
The behavioral health access gap may cost employers more than they realize:
§ $1 trillion lost in global productivity each year due to anxiety and depression. [iii]
§ 4x more unplanned absences among employees with poor mental health.[iv]
§ 2-3x higher medical costs when a mental health condition goes untreated alongside a chronic physical illness.[v]
For employers, simply offering coverage isn't enough — many people who need behavioral health support don't know what's available or where to start. The real opportunity is connecting behavioral health to the broader care ecosystem, so employees aren't left to figure out how to access care on their own.
Proactive outreach to close care gaps
Behavioral health care has traditionally worked in one of two ways: people either find care on their own while struggling, or they receive it reactively once things reach a breaking point. Hurdles like referral requirements and long wait times cause many to give up before getting care, and those who do reach treatment often arrive later, at higher cost and after prolonged distress. Either way, employers may be left with a workforce that isn't getting the support it needs.
Predictive models, like those used by Banner|Aetna, can be used to identify members whose behavioral health risk is rising and offer proactive support before a crisis occurs. This approach includes a precision engagement program powered by PromptWell. The results speak for themselves — of members who received behavioral health outreach, 73%[vi] explored mental health offerings, and many took the next step to start therapy or access other behavioral health services.
Support across the care journey
Getting help should not depend on knowing the right phone number, website, or department to call. Banner|Aetna's integrated care model means that no matter how a member enters the system, whether through proactive outreach from a care team, a visit with a Banner provider, a call to Banner Nurse On Call*, or their own request for help, clinical care advocates can step in and connect them to the support they need.
This is possible because Aetna's behavioral health care management and Banner Health's clinical infrastructure work as one connected system, built around a few key capabilities:
- Care teams work together: Banner clinical teams and Aetna behavioral health care managers can refer members to one another, meaning members are never left to navigate between their insurer and their provider on their own.
- Support is built into the care experience: Members receive timely communication that closes the gap between what they need and what their plan covers. Outreach aligned with their doctor’s visits and care appointments contains information about condition-specific programs and available benefits all in one.
- Specialized care management: For members facing more serious behavioral health challenges, dedicated teams provide additional support to coordinate care and recovery.
A network built for the full range of behavioral health needs
Behavioral health care is not one-size-fits-all. The right support can vary significantly from person to person, which is why having options matters. Since 2025, Banner|Aetna’s behavioral health provider network has expanded by 20%, giving members access to more than 653,000 behavioral health providers[vii], with in-person and virtual options across a wide range of needs, conditions, and populations, including:
- General therapy and adult psychiatry
- Substance use disorder
- Child and adolescent mental health
- Trauma and PTSD
- Eating disorders
- Autism and neurodevelopmental support
Members can search for providers and book an initial appointment directly through the member portal, choosing their preferred provider, date, and time. And because not every behavioral health need can wait for a scheduled appointment, Banner|Aetna provides on-demand access to licensed clinicians via video, chat, or phone for adolescent (13+), young adult, and adult members.
How it comes together for members
This story is based on a real member experience. Names and details have been changed to protect privacy.
For months, Dana watched her husband, Ray, struggle with his mental health. She helped him do all the right things — find a psychiatrist, attend regular appointments, and take his medication as prescribed — but his symptoms kept escalating. She didn’t know if his worsening condition meant the treatment needed more time or if it just wasn’t working. Dana was worried. She didn’t know who to turn to, and after a while, she stopped expecting things to get better.
Then the phone rang. It was the Care Advocate Team (CAT) from BannerlAetna — Ray had been identified for proactive outreach. The Health Services Assistant explained what support was available and offered to connect them with a nurse care manager. They agreed.
Sharon, their nurse care manager, met with them to understand what was really going on and used what she heard to build a tailored plan for Ray. Recognizing the severity of the situation, Sharon issued an urgent referral to the pharmacy and behavioral health teams, who stepped in right away to provide additional support. They guided Ray to make an appointment with a neuropsychologist who adjusted his medications.
His decline stopped. He started to feel more like himself, and for the first time in months, Ray and Dana had answers and a plan they could feel hopeful about. They didn't have to find the right specialist or figure out next steps on their own because their health plan had proactively identified him as needing support. This is the kind of outcome Banner|Aetna’s model is built to deliver.
Why it matters
For brokers and employers, the value is clear: when employees can access the right behavioral health support early, it can help reduce crisis-level interventions, limit avoidable absenteeism, and support a healthier, more engaged workforce. Banner|Aetna's robust network, proactive outreach, and integrated clinical pathways are built to work together, so coverage is not just something employees have — it's something they can actually use when they need it most.
To learn more about Banner|Aetna behavioral health coverage and care programs, visit the Banner|Aetna Employer page.
*While only your doctor can diagnose, prescribe or give medical advice, the Banner Nurse On-Call nurses can provide information on a variety of health topics.
[i] Kaiser Family Foundation.
[ii] World Health Organization.
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] Gallup.
[v] The National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation
[vi] PromptWell Banner|Aetna Behavioral Health Experience Report. 2025.
[vii] Aetna Behavioral Health Capabilities Deck. 2026. To learn more about Banner|Aetna network coverage and innovative products and programs, visit the Banner|Aetna Employer page.
Transforming health care, together
Banner|Aetna aims to offer access to more efficient and effective member care at a more affordable cost. We join the right medical professionals with the right technology, so members benefit from quality, personalized health care designed to help them reach their health ambitions.
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