Are you considering an inpatient, outpatient, or detox treatment program? You’re probably wondering how you will pay for these services. Most insurance plans will cover some drug or alcohol treatment.
The largest insurance carriers in this country include the following:
- Aetna
- Cigna
- Anthem
- Humana
- Kaiser Permanente
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Each company has specifics on what they will and won’t cover, and some are easier to work with than others. Though the process is essential, many detoxing programs allow you to go through this step in the comfort of your own home. It’s best to arm yourself with the knowledge to make informed decisions about your treatment.
Will Insurance Cover Detox?
You, no doubt, have many questions about your road to sobriety. The most important question is how to pay for your treatment. You can rest assured that most companies will pay for your detox program if you have insurance. Today’s insurance companies realize how commonplace it’s for a person to fall into an addiction, and they provide coverage for things such as detox programs.
The larger companies, like Humana and Aetna, will cover all or some of the costs of treatment programs, and detox is included in these categories. You can access your insurance policy online or through the paperwork they gave you when you became insured.
This paperwork will lay out the coverages for your specific policy. A section under mental or behavioral health will address substance abuse and addiction. Most insurance companies will want a preauthorization from the facility. You always want to ensure you have coverage because if you use the service without getting the necessary permissions, they can deny coverage.
Since inpatient treatment can be costly, you don’t want to be stuck with the whole bill when you have insurance to help. Before you call your insurance company, you need to have a list of questions you want to ask about detox and treatment. Their representatives can answer any of your inquiries and give you answers to help you make an informed decision.
Consider asking the following:
- How much of the detox program will the insurance company cover?
- What will you be required to pay out of pocket?
- Is there a specific timeframe they will allow you to stay and still cover the costs?
- What if you must stay longer than anticipated?
- Will they cover more than one stay in a detox program if necessary?
- Does the insurance company have specific centers they work with or pre-approved detox programs?
- What coverages are available for follow-up treatments?
Your insurance company may require bloodwork and a medical/psychological evaluation before approving your stay. So, it’s best to work with them and get what they need so that you can get on the right path.
Getting Help Through the Affordable Care Act
If you don’t have insurance, it doesn’t mean you can’t get help. You can get coverage through the ACA, or what you might know as “Obamacare.” This program is geared toward helping individuals that fall into the low-middle class range that might not be able to afford treatment. Since an addiction issue falls into mental and behavioral health, the ACA covers it. Things vary from state to state, so it’s best to see what coverages are available in your area. Some of the companies listed on the ACA won’t cover detox programs, so make sure to find out specifics. Another option is to get help from Medicare and Medicaid. Both programs are federally, and state-funded, so they consider this an essential part of one’s overall wellbeing.
Getting Detox Help
Facing your addiction issues is one of the hardest challenges you will face, but it’s the first and most crucial step towards recovery. If you don’t admit you’ve got a problem, you won’t see the need for help. Detox programs range widely from at-home care with a nurse to supervise to inpatient centers, so you should find out what your insurance will cover and the best course of treatment for you. If you want to see what detox programs are available based on your insurance, you can call one of our counselors at 844-639-8371. We can help you with insurance verifications and get you on the right path.