Addiction treatment in a high-quality, well-staffed facility doesn’t come cheap. However, although the cost is often labeled as the greatest barrier to addiction recovery, it doesn’t have to be. Both substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder are currently classified as chronic mental health issues. Under the Affordable Care Act, private pay health insurance companies are legally required to cover some or all of the related treatment costs.
Moreover, health insurance companies can no longer legally penalize applicants for having drug or alcohol addiction as known, pre-existing conditions. This means that you can both use health insurance to pay for treatment in a Florida recovery center or shop for coverage for exactly this purpose. There are, however, certain limitations that you might be subject to when using your health insurance to pay for treatment at a recovery center in Florida or in any other state. The amount of treatment that your health insurance will pay for will be largely determined by your plan type.
It’s also important to note that certain health insurance plans will only cover treatments from in-network providers. Fortunately, you can always work with admissions counselors and your own health insurance company to find out where and when your plan will provide the greatest level of coverage.
Some Treatment Costs Are Always Out-of-Pocket
No matter what health insurance company you work with or what your plan type may be, certain treatment-related expenses will likely come out of your own pocket. These include:
- Co-payments
- Prescription fees
- Plan deductibles
- Travel costs
If you have a secondary form of health insurance available, this plan might be structured to help out with some of these uncovered expenses. When calling in to speak with admissions counselors, be sure to have all of your plan information on hand. Admissions counselors at Florida recovery centers can tell you:
- How much treatment costs at their facility
- What health insurance plans do they accept
- What your plan will and will not cover
- How to use secondary insurance to pay for uncovered treatment costs
Admissions counselors can also help you establish a feasible plan for paying for any treatment-related expenses that your health insurance provider won’t take care of.
Understanding the Difference Between HMO and PPO Health Insurance
If you live outside of Florida and want to travel to the “Sunshine State” for addiction treatment, you may be able to use your health insurance if you have PPO coverage. HMO or Health Maintenance Organization plans will only cover care that’s provided by a limited network of providers.
More often than not, this network is confined solely to professionals who provide medical services within the subscriber’s current state of residence. Conversely, PPO or Preferred Provider Organization plans allow policyholders to work with both in-network and out-of-network providers. With PPO coverage, you’ll have a better chance of getting some or all of your rehab costs covered when traveling out of state.
What Can You Do About Uncovered Treatment Costs?
For most patients, not all rehab services are fully covered by health insurance. Many people pay for addiction treatment with a combination of payment types. In addition to health coverage, these can include:
- Cash
- Credit or debit cards
- Payment arrangements
- Scholarships from charitable organizations
- Crowd-sourcing or other fundraising activities
When you make payment arrangements with a Florida recovery center, you’ll likely need to pay for all of your treatment costs before your rehab actually starts. Notwithstanding this fact, payment plans make it possible for individuals or families to remit the necessary monies in manageable, reasonable increments. Scholarship opportunities are made available by a number of government agencies and private organizations.
The best way to find out about this funding is by speaking with a counselor at your chosen rehab center. These funds are needs-based. They are also both limited and generally disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis. If you choose to use fundraising or crowd-sourcing to pay for some or all of your addiction treatment, admissions counselors can offer tips for optimizing these campaigns.
Finally, if you are gainfully employed, you can also speak with the Human Resources Department at your job to find if out if your employer is willing to make any contributions to your treatment costs. The cost of treatment should never keep you from receiving the help you need. If inpatient addiction treatment at a Florida recovery center proves too expensive, you can always consider more affordable options in rehab such as:
- Outpatient addiction treatment
- Intensive outpatient addiction treatment
- Partial hospitalization programs
If you need help planning for your addiction recovery, we’re here to provide it. Call us today at 844-639-8371 to speak with one of our counselors.