In the U.S. an estimated 20 million people use illicit drugs and another 48 million use prescription drugs recreationally. If you add to that the number of people who take prescription drugs for valid medical purposes; nearly a third of the population are engaged in some type of drug use. If you are one of the 100 million people that take drugs, at some point you may have to ask, “Will my insurance pay for drug detox?”
Insurance and the Law
If you are enrolled in healthcare and you are in need of drug treatment, there is some good news for you. In 2008 the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) became effective followed by the Affordable Care Act in 2010 which put in place healthcare allowances that included individuals struggling with substance use disorders According to the healthcare law substance use disorders is included in the “ten elements of essential health benefits.” (whitehouse.gov)
Furthermore, the law states that insurance companies have to provide the same percentage of coverage for substance use disorders that they pay for other medical illnesses. This means that yes, your insurance will pay for drug detox.
How Much Will Insurance Pay?
Since insurance providers set the amount they allow for medical illnesses, the best way to know for certain how much your provider will pay is to contact them directly. Most likely the insurance provider will have a limit and depending on the total cost of the drug detox treatment that you choose; it could pay a sizable portion.
Another thing to consider is that drug detox and drug rehab is two different things. Whereas drug rehab may last from 28 days to 6 weeks or longer; drug detox treatment will last from seven to ten day or slightly longer, depending on the type of substance use.
The cost of drug detox treatment could be as little as a few hundred dollars up to many thousands, depending on the type of facility: state funded/operated, an outpatient clinic or a private detox center. Keep in mind that the more luxurious the facility the more it is going to cost. There are private drug detox facilities available that will offer a certain amount of amenities and won’t cost $30,000 per day.
What to do if there is a Balance
Once you determine how much the insurance will pay and you find the drug detox facility that is right for you, don’t give up if you discover there is a portion of the bill that you will be responsible for… you have options.
Drug detox facilities usually work with a finance company that will carry the balance for up to a year which will allow you to spread the payment out over several months. Another consideration is that many detox centers offer scholarships for low income patients. Lastly, if you are planning to pay the balance in cash up front, ask the drug detox facility if they offer discounts to patients paying cash.
Distributed by DetoxiPedia for Detox
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Phone: (480) 405-0699
Address:4326 N. 75th Street
City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Country: United States
Website: https://www.gallusdetox.com/alcohol-detox-resources