Treatment for drug or alcohol addiction comes with a high price tag. This is a very real concern for anyone who needs addiction treatment for themselves or for a loved one. Often, it’s one of the main reasons some addicts remain untreated. Health insurance can be complicated to navigate, as coverage sometimes depends directly on the person’s situation and specific policy. Since drug and alcohol addiction both have high rates of relapse, health insurance companies will often challenge you if you seek coverage for treatment.
Each substance abuse treatment center accepts different insurance policies. Many of them state that they accept “most major insurance companies” but others will accept health insurance from other providers as well. When it comes down to it, many health insurance policies do not specifically state that addiction treatment will be covered, but treatment centers know that drug rehab is a medical cost. Some of them will challenge the insurance company and help you fight to have your treatment costs covered at least partially. Specifics of how much will be covered will vary from policy to policy to some extent, so you will also want to contact your insurance provider directly to find out the details.
You will probably come to find out that there is no add-on to any health insurance policy that covers addiction treatment only. The question of a pre-existing condition comes into play so those add-ons are not even offered. Addiction is a medical disease, so you may get medical treatment. Health insurance policies should cover the costs, but you should know that it won’t always be easy.
Some services for addiction treatment may also be covered under your health insurance policy’s mental health benefits, but it may limit your coverage to outpatient services only. Many of drug and alcohol treatment facilities provide assistance via financial counselors who will work with you to verify insurance benefits and thus determine a financial plan to help you pay for your treatment program. They have expert knowledge of using both in-network and out-of-network health benefits and can better determine whether financial assistance is available and whether it is possible to be used with health insurance benefits.
Fortunately, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) is a federal law that helps Americans receive treatment for drug addiction. It basically says that insurance providers are required to offer the same benefits for addiction treatment as they do for other medical conditions. Just a little knowledge will go a long way in helping to pay for your treatment when it comes to health insurance.
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