Typically, health insurance covers any hospital or medicalemergency
There are numerous insurance options available to those
seeking treatment for their addiction to drugs, alcohol, or even specific
behaviors such as gambling and shopping addiction. Both public and private
health insurance cover a portion of the expense of outpatient or inpatient
treatment for virtually any type of addiction. Typically, health insurance
covers any hospital or medical emergency with the standard co-pays and out of
pocket costs associated with any other necessary medical emergency.
Today’s society has come to understand addiction as a
treatable disease. Insurers have also grasped the understanding that addiction,
over an individual’s lifetime, can cost tens of thousands of dollars more than
the cost of addiction treatment. Without helping cover addiction treatment
costs, insurers would have to help cover numerous emergency services costs,
psychiatric visits, and long-term medical care for physical and emotional
damage caused by the addiction. Insurers now look at addiction treatment as a
necessary medical cost and provide rehab insurance coverage.
Types of Insurance and Addiction Healthcare Costs
Individuals should contact their health insurance provider
directly to figure out if any or all of their addiction treatment and specific
rehab programs or services are covered. Due to the costs of treatment, knowing
whether or not addiction treatment is covered is an important concern to many
addicts. There are two different forms of insurance: Private insurance
and public insurance
Private health insurance is typically offered through an
employer or other type of organization. Some employers may only offer one
type of health insurance while others allow the individual to choose from
numerous plans. Buying health insurance individually, instead of purchasing it
through an employer, typically costs more because the individual is paying for
the plan individually rather than sharing the cost with the employer. Some
insurance plans work with specific health care providers and facilities in
their network, and by offering this, they are able to provide healthcare at
lower costs, which is referred to as managed care. There are numerous different
kinds of managed care plans
- Health
maintenance organizations (HMOs) – HMO plans pay only for medical care
within their network of health care providers. Because of this, these
plans typically cost less than other plans that offer choices of
providers.
- Preferred
provider organization (PPOs) – These plans cover more of an individual’s
medical care costs if treatment is sought within the network of care
providers. They still also cover some costs for care sought outside the
network.
- Preferred
provider organizations (PPOs) – These plans let the individual choose
between the HMO and PPO each time they seek medical care. These plans
offer more flexibility when choosing both doctors and hospitals.
Public health insurance is often also referred to as
government insurance, or insurance that is issued by the government and not a
specific employer or company. The plans offered through the government are
Medicaid and Medicare. Medicaid is a state run and funded insurance program
that helps individuals with lower incomes pay for costs associated with medical
care, which can include emergency visits, inpatient and outpatient addiction
treatment, and counseling. Medicaid pays the health care provider
directly. Medicaid is only available to those who meet the income restrictions
and may have restrictions on what medical costs are covered.
Medicare is also a state funded government health insurance
provided only for those individuals 65 and older or those individuals who have
certain disabilities or long-term or chronic health problems. Similar to
Medicaid, this plan covers some but not all medical costs for those individuals
who qualify for it.
Ultimately, if you want to know if your insurance covers any
form of addiction treatment such as inpatient, outpatient, residential, or
counseling, you should directly contact your insurer and discuss your options.
Drug Addiction Treatment
If you or someone you love is concerned about addiction
related healthcare costs, please call our toll-free helpline today. Our highly
trained and professional counselors are available to answer your addiction
questions as well as help you find the best treatment available for your
condition. It only takes one call to save a life
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