Find Out if Your Insurance Provider Covers Drug Treatment

The decision of whether or not to enter treatment for alcohol and drug addictions should not have to be financial in nature. However, for most Americans, the finances of a drug treatment program are a very real issue.  One way to pay for treatment for yourself or a loved one is to determine whether your insurance carrier includes it in their benefits.  You might be surprised how many policies now have at least some coverage for drug treatment.  The costs associated with the effects of drug and alcohol abuse over long periods can cost far more than the treatment itself.

Questions You Need to Ask Your Insurance Provider

Each policy is different and depends upon which coverage selections were made when the policy was created.  If your policy comes through employment, the company you work for determined the coverage based upon how much they wanted to pay for their share, as well as how much the employees could reasonably afford for their premiums.

By asking the right questions, you can find out exactly what kind of and how much coverage exists for drug treatment.

• Does the policy cover inpatient, outpatient, residential or all treatment options?
  Some policies are set up on a prerequisite basis. For instance, you may have inpatient residential coverage, but it is only available after intensive outpatient services have been exhausted and failed. Another type of coverage might cover medical detox, but not residential care after the detox period has been completed.

  These are important questions to ask prior to admitting yourself or a loved one into facility. If insurance is unable to pay, you may be on the hook for the remaining bill or you may even be forced to leave if the facility cannot verify your ability to pay.

• Does the policy cover “extras”?
  Some treatment centers are set up like hospitals, and others are set up like five-star hotels and resorts. Choosing a five-star resort-style rehab when your insurance only covers the medically necessary expenses can put a serious crimp in your budget. For instance, a regular rehab center might charge $400 per day for a room, while one of the more exclusive centers might charge $1,000 per day. Your insurance company may pay the exclusive facility, but they are only going to pay the $400 of which they approve. The remaining $600 per day would then come out of your budget after you’ve completed rehab. In most cases, without the proven ability to pay, the upscale rehab center may ask you to transfer to a more medicinal setting that your insurance is more likely to cover.
• Does the policy allow for alternative therapies?
  Many rehab treatment centers have incorporated alternative therapies like equine, art and music, martial arts or sound therapy into their daily routines. There is a chance that the providers of these services are independent contractors who will bill your insurance for each session. You’ll need to know if your insurance will cover this type of activity before you attend the sessions so you aren’t presented with a large, unexpected bill at the end of your treatment term.

How to Pay for Private Luxury Rehab

Choosing to enter a rehab facility can be a difficult choice and finding a facility that is suitable can be a challenge.  For many individuals, finding a way to pay for the nicer, private luxury rehab facilities can become an obstacle.  It doesn’t have to be, however, when you consider the many avenues for financing private, luxury rehab facilities.

Pay as You Go

The most obvious choice for a patient with the means to do so is to pay the bill for the treatment by the month.  A luxury treatment center may check the patient’s or the patient’s family’s credit history before agreeing to this particular option.  The cost of the monthly treatment, room and board will vary between facilities, so the feasibility of this option depends upon many factors.  Keep in mind that most facilities will require advance payment.

Secured Loans

The cost of a private luxury rehab for a three-month treatment can be as high as a mortgage payment.  When it comes to saving your life or the life of someone you love, however, this may not seem too high a price to pay.  Taking out a mortgage on real property or securing a loan through other means is a viable and ready option for some potential patients.

Unsecured Loans

An unsecured loan is a loan granted on an individual’s word (and signature) that he will repay the amount and all interest charges.  The benefit to this type of payment for a luxury private rehab facility is the ability to spread the payments out over many months.  For instance, if your total rehab bill is $40,000 dollars, you can pay this off over a period of several years, rather than several months.

Insurance Benefits

While more and more insurance companies are including rehab services in their plan benefits, very few will cover the “extras” that come with luxury, private rehab facilities.  This doesn’t mean that they will not pay the minimum amounts to the luxury rehab.  If you have insurance that covers a specific amount per day for inpatient treatment, it is a good idea to file a claim for reimbursement to offset the costs of staying in a nicer facility.

In-House Financing

Some luxury rehab facilities offer in-house financing.  Before being admitted to the rehab facility, the patient or the patient’s family can fill out a financing application with the rehab facility.  When you apply for this type of financing, you are asking the facility to treat you or your loved one while you pay for the treatment over time.  It is important to understand that you will continue to owe the facility the payments for the treatment regardless of whether the patient successfully completes the program or eventually relapses.

There are many benefits to choosing a private, luxury rehab facility.  Often, the ratio between physicians, treatment specialists and patients is much lower than in a public facility.  There may be more one-on-one treatment, and the surroundings may be more in line with what the patient is used to.  Choosing the right rehab is a personal decision and one must research their options completely before ruling out any facility based upon cost.

Paying for Rehab

The cost of drug rehab can be a deterrent for many addicts when it comes to getting help for their disease. They simply may not be able to afford it. Thankfully, there are options for most individuals. State-funded rehab facilities which are much less expensive or even free are available.  Some hospitals also offer drug rehabilitation programs. While the less expensive options typically are out-patient facilities and programs, there are some which allow individuals to stay for both short and long lengths of time.

There are two primary ways to pay for drug rehab. Some individuals will find that their health insurance will cover it, while others will have to pay for the expense out-of-pocket. There are free programs for people who have absolutely no money but who need treatment. These may be offered through local not-for-profits, state funded programs or churches.

More expensive drug rehab programs typically offer more of a spa-like environment.  Patients may have their meals prepared by a highly esteemed chef, have their own room and nicer amenities.  Cheaper or free drug rehab centers will often have more than one person to a room, the meals may not be as fancy and they may have far less amenities.  However, simply because a drug rehab program costs more does not mean that it will be more effective in helping individuals get off of drugs. There are a number of factors that contribute to people to being able to quit using drugs.  Probably most important is that person’s willingness and readiness to quit the drug and also whether or not they find a drug rehab program that fits their needs.