Holistic inpatient rehab programs often offer the most thorough and successful treatment approaches for drug and alcohol addiction, with an equal emphasis on mind and body. However, inpatient addiction recovery facilities also tend to carry the highest price tags, as well. Fortunately, many chemically dependent individuals carry comprehensive health insurance policies that can ease the financial burden. Before you enroll in inpatient addiction rehab, it’s important to know what your insurance policy covers. Talking to your insurance company about inpatient rehab can take the guesswork out of the financial process, and familiarizing yourself with the company’s guidelines and procedures will ensure a stress-free enrollment into the inpatient rehab center of your choice.
Talking to Your Insurance Company About Inpatient Rehab
Here are a few pointers for talking to insurance company about inpatient rehab facilities.
- Confirm Your Policy
At the outset of your conversation, you’ll want to take a moment to inquire as to the status of your health insurance policy. Make sure that you do not have any lapses in payment or outstanding issues that may need to be taken care of before your rehab experience can begin. It’s important to find out if there are any issues with your policy up-front, rather than later in the process. - Ask About Benefits
Ask your insurance representative about the benefits covered within your health plan for alcohol and drug addiction treatment. Keep a pen and paper handy to write down the details of your policy. Find out what length of stays or price ranges will be covered, and which inpatient addiction facilities are in your preferred network. - Ask About Time Limits
If you have attended drug or alcohol treatment before and relapsed, ask about any limits on the number of times inpatient rehab will be covered. Also ask about the number of maximum days that are covered under your insurance plan. If you find out there are limits you might exceed, ask what the process and rules are for gaining pre-approval of extra days in inpatient rehab if necessary. - Find Out Financial Particulars
Both copayments and deductibles tend to be higher for drug and alcohol addiction recovery than they are for many other procedures or therapy. You’ll want to make sure to ask your insurance representative about the deductible amount—the amount you need to pay out of pocket before your policy begins to cover you. You also should ask about copayment amounts—the payments you’ll have to make yourself, up front, when entering rehab. Also ask about any annual—or lifetime—limits to alcohol or drug rehab inpatient treatments that might apply to your policy. - Ask About Alternative Treatments
It’s a good idea to ask in specific about alternative medicine treatments, and find out which ones are covered under your plan. Many of the most effective inpatient rehab facilities are holistic in nature—meaning that they include approaches such as massages, Traditional Chinese Medicine, or herbal detoxification processes. - Find Out the Eligibility Requirements
Some insurance companies require that you have a psychologist—or even a doctor—prescribe inpatient treatment before you can attend. Others require that you be seen by a nurse practitioner prior to coverage, while some insurance companies require that your case meet certain, preset criteria. - Ask About Your Care Coordinator
Sometimes, insurance companies will assign you a “care coordinator,” who will handle the details of your inpatient drug or alcohol rehab treatment. These care coordinators can arrange for child care, educational and employment services in addition to your drug and alcohol treatment. Be sure to get the name, location and phone number of your care coordinator, as well their supervisor.
Call Passages Addiction Treatment Center today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number at (888) 397-0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
