For anyone living with a substance misuse disorder, going through a qualified drug and alcohol treatment program can be life-saving. However, if you’re researching rehab facilities for yourself or someone you love, you may be worried about the cost of seeking help. Fortunately, health insurance can help defray these expenses. Here’s what you need to know.

What Does Addiction Treatment Entail?

During your stay in a rehab center, you can expect to have all your room and board taken care of, including comfortable lodgings and nutritious meals. You will also work with trained addiction counselors, both in group settings and individually, to help address the causes of your addiction. Additionally, you will participate in various activities to help you learn better life skills and healthy coping mechanisms. While people on the path to recovery make progress at different rates, there’s concrete evidence to equate longer stays in treatment with more success in achieving lifelong sobriety. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “[P]articipation for less than 90 days is of limited effectiveness.” If you’re concerned that the cost of a 90-day stay in a well-appointed facility might be out of your reach, the good news is that many treatment centers accept private insurance from major insurers. You also have the option of using the Affordable Care Act to help pay for your addiction treatment.

How Does the ACA Cover Rehab?

People who have bought their health insurance policies through the Health Insurance Marketplace are eligible for affordable addiction treatment. One benefit of the ACA is that illnesses like drug and alcohol addiction are no longer considered a pre-existing condition for insurance purposes. That means an insurance company cannot deny you coverage by saying you had already struggled with a substance use disorder for any length of time before seeking help. If you have gotten your health insurance through the Marketplace, rather than obtaining it through your employer, you can expect to receive the same level of care in rehab as you would with a private insurance policy, including the following.

• An addiction evaluation
• Medical stabilization, including administration of medications, as necessary, to help manage uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms
• Dual-diagnosis treatment
• Clinical services
• Relapse prevention
• A treatment plan tailored to your unique needs

The ACA reduces addiction treatment costs, broadens the range of available treatment options and extends many benefits of employer-provided insurance plans to individual medical insurance plans. Notably, the ACA also permits young adults to remain on their parents’ health plan until age 26.

Recovery Within Reach

Don’t let concerns about cost serve as a barrier between you and the addiction treatment you need. Research your options and know what your insurance policy covers. If going to rehab will cause you to incur any co-pays, deductibles or other out-of-pocket costs, be sure to familiarize yourself with those ahead of time so there are no surprise expenses. If you’re seeking a recovery community, Spearhead Lodge provides a unique environment designed specifically for the health and wellness needs of young men. Contact us to learn more about what we offer and how to enter treatment.