Why Choose Spring Health Over Traditional EAP Alternatives?

Blog highlights

• Traditional EAPs reach just 2-5% of employees—Spring Health boosts utilization up to 600%.
• Spring Health guarantees ROI, with studies showing up to $1,070 in savings per participant in year one.
• Personalized, culturally competent care is delivered in days, not weeks.
• Transparent outcomes and real-time ROI tracking set Spring Health apart.

Why the EAP status quo isn’t enough

Traditional employee assistance programs (EAPs) were designed with good intentions. But in today’s workplace—where employee burnout and mental health concerns are sharply rising—they’re no longer enough. Traditional EAP utilization remains staggeringly low (2-5%), access is slow, and results are hard to measure.

If you’re asking, “Is Spring Health an EAP?”, the answer is more nuanced: Spring Health is a next-generation mental health solution that replaces or complements traditional EAPs by providing fast, measurable, and clinically validated support.

The cost of the “status quo tax”

Many employers assume they’ve got their employees “covered” by offering a traditional EAP. But that check-the-box approach often hides a “status quo tax”—the unseen costs of untreated behavioral health:

• 2.7x higher healthcare costs for employees with substance use disorder
• $340/day in lost productivity for each missed workday
• Up to $36,900 in avoidable cost per employee in the first year alone

By contrast, Spring Health’s precision mental health model directly addresses these drivers through fast, evidence-based care pathways. In fact, 19 independent studies—including peer-reviewed publications in JAMA Network Open and Validation Institute analyses—have all shown positive net ROI, with measurable reductions in costs linked to chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and chronic pain.

ROI outcomes for organizations using Spring Health

Beyond access: Delivering personalized, measurable support

Spring Health matches employees with high-quality care providers using a proprietary assessment, ensuring not only speed but precision. The result? Measurable clinical improvement in fewer sessions, with outcomes like:

• 92% of members demonstrate clinical improvement after engaging in care with Spring Health
• Better outcomes in 45% fewer sessions than our leading competitors

Traditional EAPs simply can’t match this level of engagement or outcome transparency.

Addressing a broader spectrum of needs

Spring Health goes far beyond mild stress and anxiety. Its integrated platform screens for over 12 clinical conditions and re-assesses members regularly to ensure they’re on the right care pathway.

• High-acuity mental health issues
• Substance use disorder (SUD)
• Crisis intervention and safety planning
• Preventive support through coaching, digital tools, and self-guided care

Additionally, through client-specific networks (CSNs), Spring Health integrates directly with an employer’s health plan. This allows employees to continue care with their Spring Health providers at the in-network benefit level, eliminating surprise bills and making high-quality care more affordable and sustainable for both members and employers.

A strategic business decision

Choosing Spring Health isn’t just a people-first move—it’s a bottom-line strategy:

• Reduce health plan costs
• Lower short-term disability claims
• Boost productivity and reduce absenteeism
• Attract and retain top talent

And most importantly, Spring Health offers verified, guaranteed ROI—something no traditional EAP provides.

FAQ

Is Spring Health an EAP?

Spring Health is far more than a traditional EAP. Instead of just providing short-term counseling, Spring Health delivers an end-to-end mental health solution that includes:

• Fast, precision-matched access to care in under one day
• Ongoing specialty care across over 12 clinical conditions
• Integration with Centers of Excellence (COEs) for complex cases
• Continuous measurement of outcomes and guaranteed ROI

This holistic approach ensures employees receive the right level of care—from prevention to specialty treatment—something traditional EAPs simply can’t provide.

What makes Spring Health different from other mental health vendors?

Spring Health is the only solution validated by both JAMA Network Open and the Validation Institute to show real-world savings on health plan costs and improved outcomes.

How quickly can members access care with Spring Health?

Members can book appointments in less than a day—much faster than the 48-day average with traditional EAPs.

Can Spring Health handle high-acuity cases or crisis support?

Yes. Spring Health includes in-house crisis support and dedicated Care Navigators (CNs), who provide both proactive and reactive involvement:

• Proactive: CNs regularly check in, monitor risk through ongoing assessments, and guide members into the right level of care before issues escalate.
• Reactive: When crises arise, CNs provide immediate clinical de-escalation, safety planning, and seamless coordination into specialty or high-acuity care.

This dual approach ensures employees are supported not only in moments of crisis, but also throughout their ongoing care journey—reducing escalation risks and strengthening outcomes.

How does ROI tracking work?

Spring Health offers real-time ROI dashboards using your actual claims data, backed by a money-back performance guarantee.