Addiction isn’t just a physical health problem but a severe emotional issue. It can also cause finance problems when trying to get your loved one adequately treated. As a result, it’s critical to pay attention to your health insurance and how well it covers drug rehabilitation and recovery. The following steps should help you better plan treatment and give your loved one the help that they need.
Understand the Severity of Your Loved One’s Addiction
Before gauging your insurance needs, knowing the addiction severity is essential. This can vary based on each person but is often connected to things like family history. After all, according to Freedom Recovery, the heritability of addiction is around 40% to 60%, including severity and abuse risk.
Furthermore, some people may work well with different treatment types. While inpatient therapy is the most effective and widely used option on the market, your loved one may need the freedom of outpatient care. Choose wisely and work with your policy from there.
Choose a Treatment That Your Insurance Will Cover
After the sweeping insurance changes in the late 2000s, addiction treatment has become mandatory on most policies. That said, some may have limitations on coverage that you must understand. For instance, some may only cover care in specific networks or individual types.
As a result, you must sit down with your insurance provider and discuss any policy limitations. Then, they’ll sit down and explain things like what care they cover, what extra payments you need to make, and any other important factors. This way, you’ll get the help you need to pay for your stay.
Find a Policy That Covers a Full Stay
Recovering from drug addiction will require a longer treatment period. Ensure your insurance policy doesn’t cut off your coverage at a certain point. For instance, some might cover one month of rehab and force you to pay for the rest of the treatment after those 30 days.
That’s because rehabilitation will take far more than you might think. First of all, a beneficial detox program can take between seven and 10 days to prepare your loved one for treatment. The rehab stay may take longer, including up to three months, for the most effective treatment.
Pay Attention to Premiums and Other Payments
It’s important to plan around premiums, co-payments, and other insurance costs when finding a policy. Often, they provide this information in your policy documents but may make it hard to understand. Contact your agent if you’re uncertain; they’ll help you better plan your coverage.
Understanding these issues can ensure that you find the policy you need. Thankfully, insurance has become more common in recent years as, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, uninsured rates among Americans 18 to 64 went from 14.5% in 2020 to 11.8% in 2022.
Work With the Addiction Treatment Facility
Lastly, it’s crucial to understand how the addiction treatment facility processes and accepts insurance and other financial support. Verify your policy with them before you send your loved one to visit them. Doing so can ensure you don’t get hit with a high bill or disappointed that it’s unavailable.
Typically, most addiction treatment companies advertise their accepted insurance to ensure consumers know what to expect. Call them directly to learn more if you can’t find out what they take. An intake professional can give you the knowledge you need to make an intelligent choice.
By taking these critical steps, you can ensure your loved one gets the addiction treatment they deserve. Talk to your financial planner about these steps and gauge what insurance policy makes the most sense. Doing so can ensure that you can afford to help your loved one recover effectively.
For more on this consider reading our article on ‘How many life insurance policies do you need‘, really?
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