How a Free Rehab Center Can Work for You
Free rehab can be a tricky thing. Many of the truly free government rehabs have long waiting list and substandard care. Fortunately, there is a way that you can afford rehab without many of the financial consequences.
Drug Addiction as a Disease
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is a medical disease or a disease of the mind. Since drug addiction is now legally and medically defined as a disease, many health insurance companies recognize addiction as a medical problem and not a legal or moral issue. This means that it is possible for your insurance to pay for your addiction treatment and recovery.
The Affordable Care Act
In 2008 the Affordable Care Act was passed. Part of this legislation included the idea that substance abuse and addiction treatment is an essential part of health benefits, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. This caused more insurance companies to cover addiction treatment with a lower deductible and lower co-payment then they ever did before.
This legislation allows treatment centers to offer free or lower out of pocket cost to those with health insurance obtained through the Health Insurance Marketplace. These treatment centers are not the free government rehabs. They are traditional rehabs that take insurance.
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act
Many insurance policies include addiction treatment coverage.
Another piece of legislation that can help you get the treatment you need is the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act. This act requires all health insurance carriers to make sure that deductibles and co-pays for group plans and other insurance types are affordable and in line with any other disease treatment.
It also requires insurers to keep all out of pocket expenses for addiction treatment about the same as they are for any other treatment or procedure. Previous to this act being passed many insurers did not cover drug addiction or they made the co-pays and deductibles more expensive than other medical treatments or procedures.
This means that previously cost prohibitive addiction treatment not covered by insurance is now not only covered but made affordable. Many policies now have addiction treatment as a part of their standard insurance package.
Quality of Care
There are disparities in the quality of care between a free government rehab and those that are covered by insurance. Due to new insurance requirements, you have a choice as to which rehab you go to and where.
One of the key principles of addiction treatment is that addiction treatment be available in a timely manner. With so many people waiting to get into a government treatment facility, it is difficult to fulfill this principle. If you use your insurance to pay for addiction treatment, you can receive care almost immediately after finding a qualified addiction treatment center that takes your insurance.
How to Find a Free Rehab
You can find a rehab that is free due to your insurance and these important pieces of legislation quickly and easily by calling 800-934-7205 (Who Answers?) . We can help locate a treatment center that takes your insurance and offers high quality professional addiction treatment.