Does Insurance Cover Rehab?
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Does My Insurance Cover Rehab?
Rehabilitation or rehab is a program mainly geared toward treating substance use disorders (SUDs). It also treats other mental health conditions. There are two types of rehab: residential rehab and outpatient rehab.
The Affordable Care Act considers your behavioral and mental health to be essential health benefits in the U.S. Therefore, your insurance covers both residential and outpatient rehab. With outpatient rehab especially, insurance can cover a greater number of sessions as it involves scheduled visits. However, the extent of the coverage can vary depending on your insurance policy. So, you need to speak to your insurance provider before entering a rehab program to understand the exact details of what is covered under your insurance plan.
At Serenity Springs Recovery, we understand that your insurance policy can be very confusing. But let us take the confusion out of your insurance. Fill out the confidential form below and let us reach out to you to have a detailed conversation regarding your insurance plan, saving you the time of contacting your insurance provider.
What Types of Outpatient Rehab Programs Does My Insurance Cover?
Your insurance will typically cover outpatient rehab programs for SUDs. The rehab programs covered are:
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) - You receive several hours of treatment during the day while you can go home or a sober living residence at night. Typically, a PHP can run up to 8 hours per day and for 5 days every week.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) - IOP is similar to PHP in the type of treatments provided. However, it runs up to 9 hours per week and anywhere between 3 - 5 days a week.
- Ongoing Care and Aftercare - Recovery is not a one-stop destination; it is a journey. Your journey will involve long-term planning focusing on ongoing care and aftercare programs. While some insurance policies cover ongoing care and aftercare, not all insurance policies cover this.
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment - Typically, a SUD tends to co-occur with a mental health condition, like anxiety disorders, mood disorders, trauma, and so on. When both conditions are treated together, it is known as dual diagnosis treatment. Your insurance policy will cover dual diagnosis treatment.
What Is Private Insurance For Rehab?
Private insurance is a kind of insurance that is not subsidized by the government. However, the law requires that behavioral and mental health be covered under a private insurance policy. Generally speaking, if you are a part of a private insurance plan consisting of 50 or more employees, it covers behavioral and mental health conditions as per the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
Private insurance may be expensive. However, it also provides the most extensive coverage. So, you can invest in a plan by considering your lifestyle and financial factors.
If you do not have a private insurance plan, then public insurance can make rehab more affordable for you. However, not all public insurance plans like Medicare or Medicaid cover behavioral or mental health treatment, so you need to check your insurance policy for the same.
Can I Have More Than One Insurance Provider?
Yes, you can have more than one insurance provider. This is known as dual coverage. While you have to pay for two premiums with dual coverage, it has many other benefits. This is what dual coverage looks like:
- Primary and Secondary Coverage - When you have more than one insurance provider, one plan becomes your primary coverage, and the other becomes your secondary coverage. The primary plan pays first, while the secondary plan covers other remaining costs if any.
- Increased Coverage - Having more than one insurance provider will increase the extent of your insurance coverage and reduce the burden on your personal finances.
- Extensive Coverage - Having more than one insurance provider will also offer the option of covering a wider range of services than having a single insurance provider.
What If I Don't Have Insurance Coverage For Rehab?
If you do not have insurance coverage for rehab, then there are some options you can go for:
- Treatment Center - Consult the treatment center where you intend to seek rehab. Many treatment centers offer you affordable options for out-of-pocket expenses, or you can even pay in smaller installments. While it may seem like a mountain to climb at first, rehab provides you with case management services, including employment assistance and financial management services. Once you attain sobriety and are able to get a stable job, you can pay off your rehab costs easily.
- Employer - Speak with your employer. Your employer can offer coverage or even aid you in paying your rehab expenses. It might seem like opening up regarding your rehab can cost you your job. However, many organizations are becoming aware of how important your behavioral and mental health is for your performance. So, you can reach out to your HR to see the available options.
How Much Does Outpatient Rehab Cost?
Outpatient rehabs are a more affordable option than residential rehabs. As they do not involve round-the-clock supervision or a hospital stay, they are very cost-effective.
Typically, outpatient rehab costs vary among treatment centers. They are also dependent on the type of rehab program, the duration of treatment, the number of specialists involved in your treatment, and other services offered. On average, they can cost between $5,000 to $50,000. A rehab center with basic amenities costs less than a luxurious rehab center.
The encouraging thing about outpatient rehab is that your insurance can cover a greater number of sessions than with residential rehab. So, the coverage can also be extensive. Moreover, many rehab centers offer affordable options in case of out-of-pocket expenses.
Why Must I Invest In Outpatient Rehab?
Rehab can seem expensive at first, but the cost of a SUD and co-occurring mental health conditions is much more than rehab. Think about it; these are some of the adversities that SUDs (and co-occurring mental health conditions) can lead to:
- SUD in itself is expensive. So, using alcohol or drugs itself can be very heavy on your pocket. On average, the cost of acquiring substances can cost you at least $3,000 in a year. Comparatively, outpatient rehab programs offer you the benefit of lasting recovery and sobriety at a much lower cost.
- SUDs can lead to other health problems. For instance, alcohol and drugs can severely damage your liver and kidney functioning. They can also lead to heart disease. To get your health back on track, you will have to spend much more than on an outpatient rehab. In fact, early intervention will cost you much less than delaying treatment.
- SUDs can impact your studies and your job. Dropping out of college and unemployment are the common problems you will have to face if you leave your SUD untreated for long.
- Legal entanglements often accompany SUDs. Apart from the paperwork and court dates, the money that goes into getting yourself out of these legal entanglements can be a great financial burden to you.
We understand that rehab can be scary. However, know that it is nothing different from seeking treatment for a physical ailment. While it may seem daunting at first, a sober tomorrow is much brighter and fruitful.
