Does Health Insurance Cover Drug And Alcohol Rehab?

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) that preceded it, Americans receive health insurance coverage for addiction treatment.

But every health insurance plan is different, so the amount of coverage may vary.

Does Health Insurance Cover Drug And Alcohol Rehab?

Yes, it does.

But that doesn’t mean that insurance companies will cover the entire cost of treatment programs or cover every treatment service provided by a rehab center.

Insurance companies also may require prior authorization for some drug and alcohol addiction treatment options, and they may deny coverage for a specific type of treatment.

You will also find a lot of coverage variance in insurance policies, so while they may cover treatment, the extent of that coverage depends on your insurance provider and policy.

Addiction Treatments That Insurance Covers

Generally speaking, insurance covers rehab costs associated with evidence-based treatment for drug or alcohol abuse.

Levels of care that are usually covered by insurance include:

• detoxification services, including medical detox
• hospitalization
• inpatient rehab programs
• intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
• outpatient treatment
• residential treatment
• medication-assisted treatment (MAT)

Treatment services that are usually covered by insurance include:

• counseling
• individual therapy
• group therapy
• family therapy
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)

The preceding treatment services and levels of care for alcohol and drug abuse will almost always be covered by all types of insurance.

Health Insurance Options For Addiction Care

Many people get private insurance benefits through their employer or spouse’s employer. Other popular forms of health insurance include publicly funded programs.

Different types of insurance that cover substance abuse include:

• private health insurance
• Medicaid
• Medicare
• TRICARE military insurance
• Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans

This means that no matter what type of health insurance you have, you can receive coverage for mental health services and alcohol and drug addiction treatment.

What About Out-Of-Pocket Expenses?

Insurance companies must offer coverage for a drug rehab program, but that coverage can vary depending on your insurance plan.

You may still end up owing a sometimes considerable amount of money due to out-of-pocket expenses.

Out-of-pocket expenses may include:

• copayments
• a deductible
• uncovered treatments, like yoga or acupuncture
• uncovered expenses, like pet care during treatment

You should also note that if you are not receiving care at a treatment facility that is in-network with your insurance company, your copayments and your deductible could increase.

If you find yourself facing more out-of-pocket expenses from a drug rehab program than you were anticipating, you have options to help you pay for them.

Payment options for costs outside of health insurance coverage may include:

• payment plans through your drug treatment center
• substance abuse treatment loans
• personal loans
• medical credit cards, which can only be used for healthcare expenses but offer lower interest rates than standard credit cards

Find Substance Use Disorder Treatment Today

If you or a loved one is facing a substance use disorder, you can find treatment today. Call or visit AddictionResource.net to learn about the recovery process and how to get started.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff