Alcohol And Drug Rehab Centers That Accept Lifetime Healthcare Insurance

Several decades ago, health insurance companies didn’t cover any type of addiction treatment. There was no medical research to support the idea that drug and alcohol abuse could be the result of anything but immoral behavior and bad choices.

It was only after the discovery of the way that alcohol and drugs can hijack a person’s brain chemistry to make them crave the substances more that this all began to change.

Now, companies like Lifetime Healthcare are beginning to encourage their policyholders to get the help that they need. Insurance carriers offer better plans with higher coverage levels that are specifically tailored for addiction treatment.

Does Lifetime Healthcare Cover Addiction Treatment?

Lifetime Healthcare is a different type of health insurance company than what most people are used to. As a not-for-profit entity, they act as a holding company.

This allows them to be able to fund health services for their affiliate insurance companies, such as:

• Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Univera Healthcare
• Lifetime Benefit Solutions
• MedAmerica

The main benefit of having insurance through Lifetime Healthcare is that there is a reduced level of risk, which helps decrease the fees that policyholders have to pay for their health insurance.

Lifetime Healthcare Insurance Plans: Levels Of Coverage

Each of the affiliate insurance companies that are connected to this holding company have their own plans and deductibles. It can sometimes be confusing to try to figure out how to use Lifetime Healthcare to pay for addiction treatment.

Because of this, it helps to take a look at each of the individual plans that are available before deciding which of them is best.

For example, with Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, there are four main plans that a person can choose from. The tiers are bronze, silver, gold, and platinum.

The bronze plan is the lowest level, and the platinum plan is the highest. The lower the plan level, the higher the deductible will be.

It is important to mention that those who are struggling financially may be able to qualify for coverage through Lifetime Healthcare at little to no cost if they meet the insurance company’s income requirements.

Does Lifetime Healthcare Cover The Cost Of Inpatient Drug And Alcohol Treatment?

Lifetime Healthcare insurance plans may cover the cost of inpatient treatment. Coverage will depend on the affiliate insurance company and which plan you are enrolled in.

For example, most Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plans provide some level of coverage for inpatient drug rehab. Typically, insurance plans will cover a percent of the overall costs ranging from 40 to 90 percent.

Because residential treatment requires patients to stay overnight at the rehab center, treatment costs are calculated on a daily basis.

Any costs not covered by your Lifetime Healthcare insurance plans become your out-of-pocket expense. Rehab centers often offer payment programs and other forms of assistance to help those in recovery get the care they need.

Does Lifetime Healthcare Cover The Cost Of Outpatient Addiction Treatment?

Outpatient rehab programs may also be covered by Lifetime Healthcare insurance. As with residential rehab programs, coverage for outpatient treatment will depend on your Lifetime insurance plan.

Outpatient treatment varies widely in length and intensity. Some of the most common forms include intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs.

Does Lifetime Healthcare Cover The Cost Of Partial Hospitalization Programs?

Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) are generally covered by Lifetime Healthcare insurance policies.

While coverage amounts vary, most plans will have similar requirements for outpatient treatment coverage, such as:

• if the patient is able to get treatment without the need for medical supervision
• how long the rehab program is and how many hours of therapy and counseling are offered per week
• prior authorization for treatment

Does Lifetime Healthcare Cover The Cost Of Intensive Outpatient Programs?

Lifetime Healthcare insurance offers coverage for intensive outpatient programs (IOP) when they meet program requirements. Eligibility for coverage of IOPs may be similar to partial hospitalization coverage requirements and will depend on the individual insurance plan.

Does Lifetime Healthcare Cover The Cost Of Suboxone?

Suboxone may be covered by Lifetime Healthcare insurance plans if the affiliate insurance company covers this medication. Pharmacy benefits differ greatly by insurance plan and can be impacted by many factors, such as whether the medication is a preferred prescription.

Does Lifetime Healthcare Cover The Cost Of Methadone?

Methadone is part of many medication-assisted treatment programs that are covered by Lifetime Healthcare plans. This medication helps curb withdrawal symptoms for those with opioid use disorders and may be partially or fully covered by Lifetime Healthcare insurance.

Does Lifetime Healthcare Cover The Cost Of Sober Living?

Sober living costs may also be covered by your Lifetime Healthcare insurance policy, depending on which holding company offers your plan. Coverage for sober living or transitional housing can also depend on whether residential treatment costs are covered, as some states may consider sober living homes a form of residential treatment.

How To Use Your Lifetime Healthcare Plan For Addiction Treatment

Using Lifetime Healthcare insurance to pay for drug rehab depends on the affiliate company that a policyholder goes through. Most of the affiliates only require that a person notify them that they are going to need to go into a drug and alcohol treatment center (prior authorization).

After this, they will review the policyholder’s plan to make sure that they have the coverage that is required to pay for it. They will also check to see how much of the deductible the policyholder has covered so far.

Most of the affiliate companies require that the deductible is covered first before they will contribute anything towards the medical bills.

The only exception to this rule is if a policyholder has a plan that is tailored for low-income individuals, as they will have no deductible to meet.

Some Lifetime Healthcare affiliate insurance companies also require that a doctor prescribe the addiction treatment before they will allow it, known as a physician referral.

List Of Lifetime Healthcare Plans By State

The rehab centers that accept Lifetime Healthcare insurance are all located in New York because Lifetime Healthcare only covers the upper portion of this state.

Lifetime Healthcare offers plans with coverage in the following areas of the state of New York:

• Binghamton
• Buffalo
• Elmira
• Oneonta
• Plattsburgh
• Rochester
• Syracuse
• Utica
• Watertown

Finding A Rehab Center That Accepts Lifetime Healthcare

Because there are several affiliates connected to this New York holding company, anyone who needs to find rehab centers that accept Lifetime Healthcare insurance may have a complicated search process.

Some of the affiliate companies, such as Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, may be willing to help with the process if they are contacted directly.

But if an addicted person is very sick because they are going through withdrawal, it is best to save as much time as possible by contacting our organization first.

We can also help reduce an addicted person’s out-of-pocket expenses by directing them to an addiction treatment facility that will match up best with their insurance benefits.

To learn more about alcohol and drug rehab centers that accept Lifetime Healthcare insurance, or for additional addiction treatment options, contact us today.

Updated on July 27, 2020

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff