There is no better time than right now to find the treatment needed to free yourself or a loved one from the grips of drug abuse and addiction. Finding the right drug abuse treatment is no easy task, let alone getting you drug abuse treatment covered by insurance. But with addiction coming at such a great cost, finding insurance and/or affordable care is priceless. Not only does untreated drug abuse bring immense cost to the individual, but also to family, friends, their community, and the world at large. Imagine the immense loss or cost related to lost productivity, premature death, and crime in a community. In fact, according to a study done by Georgetown University, the societal cost of addiction is more than $532 billion a year. Finding drug abuse treatment saves lives, whether covered by insurance or not. Whether you have full insurance coverage or none at all, getting treatment is worth every cent paid. Drug abuse treatment provides a path to recovery for long-term sobriety and a reclaimed beautiful life.
Should you or a loved one be blessed enough to have insurance, why not look into finding the best recovery treatment available that is covered? Taking the time to research and understand exactly what an insurance policy can provide and cover is crucial to finding a good fit that you can also afford. Knowing the right questions to ask your policy provider as well as potential treatment centers can also help determine what is covered by insurance. Not all drug abuse treatment centers are created the same, just as not all insurance policies will cover the same treatments. Doing your homework on options available to you or a loved one is important in determining the cost. Those struggling with drug abuse most often already have financial trouble. Which is why getting your drug abuse treatment covered by insurance is so important. Don’t let the potential cost of treatment deter you or someone you care about from finding treatment when they most need it. This article will explain the factors considered when covering drug abuse treatment, questions to ask your insurance, and the types of programs available to cover patients who are uninsured.
Why Getting Your Drug Abuse Treatment Covered By Insurance Is Important
Some might assume that most drug abuse rehab patients have the help of insurance to cover their cost of treatment. However, over 60% of people who sought out rehabilitation from drug abuse did not have health insurance. This proves the need for more transparent information on how to get drug abuse treatment covered by insurance. It is important to understand that drug abuse treatment options and programs without insurance can come at a higher cost out of pocket. Which is why getting your drug abuse treatment covered by insurance is crucial in lowering overall cost to yourself or a loved one.
Unfortunately, cost can deter a drug addicted person with already financial strain to neglect seeking treatment. And without the proper programs and expertise, someone seeking drug abuse treatment will have a harder time kicking their addiction. Thankfully in recognition of this, there are non-profit organizations and programs to help those struggling with drug abuse and addiction. Coverage programs constructed to help ease the financial burden of getting the drug abuse treatment needed. It is also worth noting that those who work at drug abuse recovery centers most often want to help others succeed, hence why they chose their profession. Getting your drug abuse treatment covered by insurance means asking the right questions to the right people in your search.
Questions To Ask In Getting Your Drug Abuse Treatment Covered
Oftentimes, drug abuse treatment centers will employ insurance specialists to help prospective clients understand their policies and options available. Insurance specialists, whether of the Insurance Company or Rehab Facility, are available to aid in getting your drug abuse treatment covered by insurance. It is also very wise for anyone seeking sobriety treatment to contact their insurance providers directly to ascertain coverage specifics and details. It is important to understand too that there are still many treatment centers wanting to help find a solution. Insurance specialists at Omega Recovery for example are prepared to work out payment plans to cover the cost of drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation. And in some cases, a loved one can act on behalf of the person needing rehabilitation to apply for insurance as well. Again, it is wise to sit down with an industry expert and determine the best treatment programs and financing options for you. For knowledge- there are two types of insurance: private and public. In many cases, private and public insurance companies cover every type of addiction.
Private Health Insurance Policies:
For the most part, private insurance is provided by employers or private insurance companies. Payment plans and coverage vary depending on the specific insurance company and their policies offered. Although it’s more expensive than public health plans, private insurance programs are more likely to recover a majority of drug abuse treatment costs. Which is why getting your drug abuse treatment covered by insurance is so important. Health coverage under private health insurance policies often include; inpatient/outpatient drug abuse rehabilitation, drug detoxification programs, holistic treatment modalities and options. Often, once a privately insured covered client completes their treatment program, the insurance company will approve and process their claim for reimbursement.
Public Health Insurance Policies:
The other option for getting your drug abuse treatment covered by insurance is through public health insurance plans that are provided by the government services. In fact, there are several programs that offer public health care for families with financial concerns and limitations. Public health insurance policies make plans more affordable and many don’t have deductibles or copays. In the event that rehabilitation treatment is not covered, there are nonprofit organizations that provide more affordable rehab services as well.
There are various types of drug abuse and/or addiction treatment in the United States, most of which are often covered by health insurance policies. According to The Centers For Disease Control, nearly 90 percent of Americans have some form of health insurance in 2021. Depending on your insurance plan specifics, drug abuse treatment programs covered by insurance include:
- Medical detoxification.
- Medication-assisted treatment.
- Dual Diagnosis & Co-Occurring mental health treatments.
- Inpatient rehabilitation.
- Intensive outpatient.
- Outpatient care.
- Continuing care. (e.g., counseling, therapy)
- Maintenance medication to support ongoing sobriety.
The legislation passed as part of the Affordable Care Act did not stop with quality addiction care. Plans were also required, as part of the legislation, to provide the same level of care for mental health concerns that they do for physical health concerns. That means plans that provide doctor visits for a foot problem for $20 must also provide doctor visits for depression for $20. The care, and the cost, must be the same. The American Psychological Association says these parity laws apply to all sorts of programs, including those provided by employers, those coming through health care exchanges, and those coming through Medicaid and CHIP.
Parity laws don’t explicitly state what sorts of mental health conditions plans must provide care for, but the rules are similar to those seen in drug abuse treatment. If plans provide care for mental illness, they typically don’t specify that some illnesses are covered while others are not. That would require a huge amount of paperwork and time, and most plan administrators don’t have much of either of those things to spare, so the plans simply cover all of it. Again, this is an issue that’s best discussed with a facilities admissions coordinator and or insurance policy provider. There are many avenues to explore in getting your drug abuse treatment covered by insurance, it just requires time and due diligence.
Drug Abuse Treatment Is Possible Without Covered Insurance
Some insurance companies will cover the cost of rehabilitation, however, there are many people out there who can’t afford these benefits. That being said though, there are many options and organizations out there for getting your drug abuse treatment covered by insurance. There are many treatments and rehabilitation options for people dealing with drug abuse and addiction disorders. Luckily, many insurance companies cover the cost of drug abuse treatment because they’re well aware of the physical and mental traumas of substance abuse. Because treatment is not cheap, insurers make sure that their clients are covered to provide the care they need. If you, or a loved one, are dealing with drug abuse, finding what treatments are covered and where is imperative to lowering the overall cost of rehab.
Again, even if you or a loved one are not policy covered, look into getting your drug abuse treatment covered by insurance. There are many programs that you or a loved one struggling with drug abuse may qualify for when applying. Medicare is available for those 65 and older and for those who are disabled or have specific health conditions for one. It’s important to note that Medicaid eligibility varies by state but is generally based on income and family size. Second, yourself or a loved one may qualify for VA coverage if a honorably discharged veteran. All three of these public insurance plans can help reduce the cost of addiction treatment for eligible individuals and are worth applying for. Other ways of getting your drug abuse treatment covered by insurance are:
Sliding Scale Fees: Some treatment centers and drug abuse programs have a sliding scale of fees where you pay according to your income bracket.
Scholarships And Grants: Many treatment centers that focus on getting you have scholarship options for those who cannot afford treatment. You’ll need to find out the requirements and how to apply.
State-Funded Or Free Rehab Programs: Many states have specific rehab programs that are low-cost or free. These can be a great way to get the care someone struggling with drug abuse and addiction needs even if they can’t afford the costs of traditional private treatment.
Private Pay & Payment Plans: You can use savings, a loan, or money from friends and family to pay for your treatment privately. Many treatment centers also have payment plans that can make this process easier. Speaking with the admittance staff of a potential rehab facility is best in knowing what your private options are.
Questions To Ask Your Insurance Provider And Potential Drug Abuse Treatment Center
Before sitting down with your health insurance agent, or a potential drug abuse treatment program, you should compile a list of questions to ask your agent. These questions are important to understanding what is covered and offered, and include:
- What is the copay and deductible cost of drug abuse treatment?
- How many days of drug abuse treatment are covered under this plan?
- Does this facility accept both out-of-network and private pay insurance from all major insurers?
- Are prescribed medicines covered?
- Are drug detoxing programs covered?
- To what extent are your services covered?
- What treatment programs does my current policy cover?
- What options are available without insurance?
Again, the answers to these questions vary depending on your health plan and the facility or drug abuse treatments and programs in question. Contacting your insurance company for more details on your coverage is important before agreement on attending a particular facility. Also contacting a potential facility and their insurance or admittance staff is key before making a commitment.
If you or your loved one are ready to take the brave step to getting drug abuse treatment, the time is now. Omega Recovery is here for our clients every step of the way toward recovery, insured or not. We have experienced and informative staff members that can help with getting your drug abuse treatment covered by insurance. And we offer amazing programs that help our clients have no ways of finding insurance, whether public or private. The mission of Omega Recovery today continues to be to provide individuals and families struggling in today’s challenging world with the best and most effective treatment model available. We take pride in offering care to those who need it most to live their best life.
