Entering treatment for drug and alcohol addiction is a significant life event. You’ll need the support of friends, family, and even your workplace associates in order to make the time and arrangements necessary to move forward into health and healing.
How will I pay for treatment?
One of the more important questions to ask…and answer…when considering rehab is the cost. You’ll likely be in some sort of inpatient program for an initial period of thirty to sixty days, during which time you’ll be unable to work. Finding out what options are available to you, as well as what your health insurance is able to cover, will be critical as you make plans to begin your journey to sobriety.
Saving money in the long run
The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that for every dollar spent on treatment services, an average of twelve dollars is saved on other expenses related to addiction such as medical care, accident coverage, criminal activity, and workplace productivity. It is in the best interests of many insurance companies to make the investment in treatment services for their subscribers, for it will help keep healthcare costs lower in the long run.
Before you enter treatment, it is necessary to find out what your insurance will cover, and what portion of your care may be required of you. Some facilities do not accept any insurance as a form of payment; finding a few reputable facilities and calling to ask questions beforehand will help you weed through those who will not be able to give insurance-backed care with those who will.
Insurance provider stipulations
Most insurance providers are willing to cover the cost of rehabilitation services, provided that certain regulations are in place. For instance, many companies will cover inpatient treatment, provided that treatment protocols begin with medically supervised detoxification. Others will require proof from your medical doctor that treatment is “medically necessary” before they will cover it. Your physician should be able to provide you with a letter outlining the necessity of care, and in most cases, this is proof enough for insurance companies to pick up the bill.
Understanding your care coverage
If you have not yet dealt with any significant insurance claim on your behalf or that of others, it is important that you understand some simple language that will be used to navigate your care. Some of these terms and definitions include:
- Policy: the type of insurance plan you carry
- Policyholder: the person(s) covered under the plan
- Carrier: the insurance company that holds the policy
- Out of pocket: costs that you will be required to pay outside of insurance benefits
- Deductible: required cost to you before insurance benefits begin to kick in
- Premium: monthly cost for insurance coverage
- Claim: any bill submitted to insurance for payment
- In/Out of network: those doctors and care providers that accept your insurance plan, vs. those who do not
- Copay: the amount that will be required at the time of service, over and above your insurance benefits
Calling your insurance company and getting clarification on services that will be covered will be a good place to start, as it will allow you to make care choices that work for you financially.
Tips for dealing with insurance companies
Navigating a sea of questions and options before entering treatment may seem like a daunting task, but it is well worth a couple of strategically planned phone calls to make sure you enter treatment with only one thing on your mind—-your health. Follow these simple tips for setting yourself up for rehab success:
1. Learn about your policy
Learn everything you can about your insurance policy. Read through everything and ask for understanding to make sure you understand your coverage and the types of care that will be available to you.
2. Keep up with payment
Paying your monthly premium will ensure that you don’t experience lapses in care, which could complicate the treatment process.
3. Understand out of pocket
Begin to plan…and save for out of pocket expenses. Knowing what you will be responsible for will help you prepare for your treatment experience without the added stress of financial burden.
4. Know your plan
Be able to answer questions about your plan, as well as determine which providers are in or out of network, in order to access the best care for the right amount of coverage.
5. Select the right facility for you
Finding a facility that accepts your insurance plan is a huge relief; talking to insurance representatives and care givers at the facility will help you put all the necessary pieces in place to make entering treatment as low-stress as possible.
With a little bit of pre-planning and some well-thought-out questions, you’ll be able to find the right care at the right price. Ask for help from friends and family members if needed, and set yourself up for sobriety success by making sure you can complete the treatment process with no delays. You are on an exciting road to better health; call us to day to see how we can help you begin the process of building a quality life once more. Please contact us at 833-846-5669.