Private Health Insurance Substance Abuse Treatment

When it comes to substance abuse treatment, many individuals look for free or low-cost treatment options because financial situations for those with substance use disorders are often poor. Some individuals, however, have the ability to attend treatment with the help of private health insurance. Substance abuse treatment centers with the option of private health insurance payments are numerous and can often be very comfortable facilities in which you can work through your recovery.

How Many Private Health Insurance Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities are There?

SAMHSA states that facilities that have no payment assistance (meaning that they are neither all nor partially free and that they do not operate on a sliding fee scale) make up approximately 23.7% of the substance abuse facilities in the country. These are the facilities where private health insurance will be the only means of payment other than out of pocket.

While these facilities exist, some sliding fee scale and partially free facilities can also take private health insurance as a substance abuse treatment payment, and calling the facility and finding out what is necessary from you and your insurance provider in order to attend treatment is the best way to decide if the facility fits your financial needs. Most facilities will accept private health insurance as payment except for some which are particularly set aside for individuals who cannot pay with private health insurance or another means as they are likely experiencing financial troubles and need free or very low-cost rehab.

Can I Use My Private Health Insurance to Get Substance Abuse Treatment?

Yes. According to Healthcare.gov, “All private health insurance plans offered in the Marketplace offer the same set of essential health benefits,” including “mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral treatment (this includes counseling and psychotherapy).”

If you are an individual who has private health insurance and needs treatment for substance abuse, call your insurance provider and ask what will be covered if you decide to attend treatment. There is a very high possibility that at least some of your treatment needs will be covered by your private health insurance, especially with the new rules set forth by the Affordable Care Act.

Most, if not all, rehab centers accept private insurance.

What is Substance Abuse Treatment Like?

Private health insurance substance abuse treatment is similar to other types of low-income or free centers in that the main treatments (medication and behavioral therapy) are the same. However, in many cases, these facilities offer extra benefits to those able to afford them. Rooms in inpatient facilities can be bigger, or there can be more amenities at the facility such as a pool or a nature trail.

In some private facilities, patients have the option to attend more treatments that can beneficial but are not medically-based treatments for substance abuse. Holistic treatments like art therapy, dance, nutritional classes, and exercise classes are often helpful to patients by giving them more treatment options as well as an outlet for their feelings about their drug abuse.

Private health insurance substance abuse treatment is often beneficial to those with the ability to attend it. Ask your provider if you can attend and pay for treatment with the help of your private health insurance.