Can I Get Insurance for Addiction Treatment?
Many people who find themselves in the need for quality addiction treatment wonder if there are any forms of insurance coverage available to assist in paying for the cost of treatment. While there are not state mandates in every state (not as of yet anyway) there are some ways that you can get insurance for addiction treatment and in some states there are requirements already in place to assist those who need treatment in paying for help.
Several insurance options are available to those who require treatment for addiction. In fact, if you already have health insurance, there is a possibility that you already have some form of coverage for your treatment and you don’t even know it. Many public health insurance as well as private health insurance coverage programs provide compensation for at least some portion of outpatient treatment and some offer contributions toward inpatient addiction treatment too.
Most insurance firms now recognize that addiction is a disease that affects the health and that requires professional treatment. Those that realize this also know that left untreated, addiction can lead to further health complications that ARE covered by insurance and that WILL cost the insurer large amounts of money to take care of in the future. This is why many insurance companies are now providing adequate coverage for addiction treatment on their own free will rather than waiting for the Healthcare Reform Act to set in in 2014 and make progressive changes then.
Private insurance coverage often provides you with the best compensation benefits when it comes to addiction treatment, but as with any private coverage, it can be costly. Health plans that are paid for by your employer or individually by yourself and are not subsidized by the federal government offer the best coverage for addiction treatment and may cover things like luxury addiction treatment, inpatient treatment, and a wealth of outpatient services that are not typically covered by state or publicly funded insurance programs such as Medicaid or Medicare.
If you’re unsure whether your current insurance policy provides coverage for addiction treatment, contact your insurer directly and get the answers. Make sure that if you do have coverage, you ask about the specific details of the coverage such as what it will cover, how much treatment is covered, if there are co-pays, if there are limitations and any other questions pertinent to your treatment and your insurance coverage options.
For those who do not have insurance, you may want to consider adding a private policy health plan to your agenda. Some policies will have waiting periods in which you will not be able to use to coverage but others will provide immediate access to the health coverage that you need to get help and begin the process of recovering from addiction. A little research will lead you to a policy that can help.