There are so many obstacles to getting treatment for substance use. Once we get past our own objections, we need to find a facility that suits us. Ideally, the facility we choose will be staffed with compassionate professionals and employ treatments and therapies that sound appealing to us. Finally, we have to figure out how on earth we will afford our chosen treatment program. This raises the question, “Does my insurance cover treatment?”
The Least of Our Worries
Typically, seeking treatment for substance abuse is the last resort. At this point, the pain that we had been trying to escape by using substances has become unbearable. The emotional and physical turmoil experienced as a result is only perpetuating the vicious addiction cycle. We find ourselves experiencing withdrawals and willing to do whatever it takes to get more of our preferred substance. Unfortunately, we end up hurting the people we love in the crosshairs, leading to overwhelming shame and guilt.
When compared to the chaos of active addiction, figuring out how to pay for treatment should feel like the least of our worries. However, financial means to pay for treatment have long been a barrier to people getting help for substance use. A study by the National Center for Biotechnology Institute (NCBI) discovered that, of those that need treatment for substance use, only an estimated ten percent actually receive it. While there are many barriers to accessing treatment, including readiness and willingness to accept help, financial resources are one of the top reasons why many addicts never receive the help that they deserve.
How Legislation Has Changed Access to Care
Many advances have been made in recent years to improve healthcare and increase funding for substance use treatment. One of the most significant changes was the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, which required health insurance companies to cover services for mental health and addiction at the same rates as other physical health conditions.
This law changed the excessive copays and deductibles for mental health and addiction treatment services, as well as eliminating limitations on frequency of services. In other words, if a therapy copay was more than double the copay for a traditional physician visit and we were limited to 20 sessions per year, this new law required health insurance companies to reduce fees accordingly and do away with any limitations.
Another very impactful piece of legislation has been the Affordable Care Act of 2010. In acknowledging limited financial access to substance use and mental health treatment services, this law expanded Medicaid coverage to fill in the gaps that personal health insurance did not cover. Additionally, the law mandated that addiction no longer be considered a preexisting condition by healthcare insurance providers. The Affordable Care Act increased both access to healthcare and affordability of health insurance plans, thereby increasing available resources for substance use treatment.
When My Facility of Choice is In-Network
There is a lot of vocabulary surrounding healthcare that we may or may not understand. When a healthcare provider, including a residential treatment facility for substance use, is considered in-network, that means that we will have little to no excess costs for services. In-network providers cost us the least amount of money.
Facilities contract with insurance companies to provide us with services and lower patient financial responsibility. Each plan is different and the facility can help us to get pre-approval for services where necessary.
At Rancho Milagro Recovery, we are currently in-network providers for the following healthcare insurance plans:
- Humana
- Cigna
- Tricare
- HMC Healthworks
- USA Managed Care Organization (USA MCO)
Furthermore, we are expanding our in-network contracts to include as many health insurance plans as possible. Our goal is to provide help for anyone who needs it. If your healthcare provider is not listed as in-network, please call us to find out if we have contracted with them more recently.
At Rancho Milagro Recovery, we understand the costs associated with detoxification and residential care can be excessive for an individual. Knowing that we can partner with health insurance companies to provide in-network services and significantly reduce those costs helps us to provide the best possible care, while allowing our clients to be able to focus on getting healthy.
Worrying about Ourselves, Not Money
Substance use can be debilitating and destructive, not only to our own lives but to the lives of our loved ones as well. Having made the decision to seek treatment for our substance use, our focus needs to be on our own mental and physical health. Adding financial stress at a time like this is the last thing we need.
The hope of Rancho Milagro Recovery is that money never has to be a deterrent to seeking life-changing treatment for substance abuse. Lawmakers, insurance providers, and treatment facilities have all worked together to make treatment more available and affordable. If you are ready and willing to accept help, all you need to do is ask.
Does my insurance cover treatment? The answer is just a phone call away. Reach out to Rancho Milagro Recovery today, at (951) 526-4582 and find out if your insurance provider is in-network with our program. Don’t let the fear of financial issues hold you back from getting the help you deserve. Call us today.