19-30 Age Group Leads in Telehealth Mental Health Claims

FAIR Health, a national organization that tracks healthcare claims, reported that the age group 19-30 had the highest percentage of telehealth patients treated for mental health conditions in the second quarter of 2026. According to FAIR Health's Quarterly Telehealth Regional Tracker, 70.9% of patients in this age group received telehealth services for mental health issues, compared to 53.7% of the overall population.

The data, which covers the commercially insured population excluding Medicare Fee-for-Service, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid, highlights a significant trend in mental health care. This finding is consistent with the first quarter of 2026, where mental health conditions were the top diagnostic category for telehealth services in every age group and region.

Overweight and obesity also emerged as a notable telehealth diagnostic category, ranking second nationally and in the Midwest and Northeast. This category remained in the top five in the South and West, and it was the second most common telehealth claim in four age groups: 19-30, 31-40, 41-50, and 51-64. This is an increase from the first quarter, where it was ranked third.

While the overall percentage of patients with a telehealth claim decreased in most regions, the West saw a relative increase of 3.1% from the first to the second quarter of 2026. Nationally, the decrease was 0.5%, with the Midwest experiencing a 1.6% decrease, the Northeast a 2.6% decrease, and the South a 1.2% decrease.

Urban areas continued to show higher telehealth utilization compared to rural areas. In urban areas, 18.5% of patients had a telehealth claim, compared to 10.2% in rural areas. The decrease in telehealth claims in urban areas was 0.6%, while in rural areas, it was 1.0%.

Established patient office or other outpatient services remained the top procedure category, followed by psychotherapy services and procedures. These categories topped the list in every age group and region, indicating a consistent trend in telehealth service utilization.

FAIR Health's Quarterly Telehealth Regional Tracker provides valuable insights into telehealth trends, helping stakeholders improve healthcare quality, access, and affordability. The data underscores the growing importance of telehealth in addressing various healthcare needs, particularly mental health and obesity-related issues, among younger adults.