Where to Find Insurance Coverage for Substance Abuse Treatment

Substance abuse is a serious medical issue that affects millions of people all over the world, but it is unfortunately an issue for which many people have difficulty finding treatment options. Many people in the medical industry haven’t accepted the reality of substance abuse as a legitimate medical concern until recently, and the social stigma attached to substance abuse can make it difficult for those suffering to seek help. However, many standard healthcare plans offer options for substance abuse treatment.

The medical industry treats substance abuse as a mental health problem, and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was put into action in 2008 to ensure that health insurance coverage for mental health conditions would be as comprehensive as coverage for other medical issues. While this act doesn’t require insurance providers to offer coverage for substance abuse treatment, it does require that an insurance company which chooses to cover mental health concerns must do so at the same rate as medical treatments. If your insurance provider offers coverage for mental health treatments, you should be able to get the same coverage that would apply to any other medical condition.

Understand that there are many varying treatment options available for substance abuse problems. In-patient residential treatment programs are well known for their benefits in treating addiction and substance abuse problems, but they are also very expensive. Some of these treatment options might not be covered under your insurance policy, whereas an alternative out-patient treatment may be within your policy’s coverage boundaries. Insurance companies also vary in the kinds of substance abuse treatments that they cover. An insurer that provides coverage for drug and alcohol abuse treatment may not cover smoking cessation programs, for instance.

In order to find treatment options that work for you, it is best to speak directly with your insurance company to find out what kind of coverage is available to you. Should you find that your insurance provider doesn’t offer the coverage you need, you have a few options. It may be possible to negotiate a more comprehensive policy with your current provider if you’ve been a reliable customer in the past. If an arrangement can’t be reached, you may want to start looking into other insurance options. Health coverage is a vast industry, and there is sure to be a company out there offering the coverage you need.

Look into government assistance programs as well, if your insurance provider can’t cover substance abuse treatment. Numerous state and federal government grants, such as the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant and programs in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, are available with the express purpose of helping those in need, and you may qualify for assistance under one of these programs. Be sure to inquire about all available options for getting the coverage you need.

From in-patient rehab in Los Angeles to alternative treatment options in the mid-west, there are numerous ways to deal with a substance abuse problem. Insurance companies are more proactive than ever about helping people deal with these problems, and government assistance programs can often help to pick up the tab as well. Remember these guidelines to find the best possible treatment.