Does Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama cover Alcohol rehab?
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), between 2017-2019 over 200,000 Alabama residents struggled with alcohol use disorder in the past year.1, p. 31 second paragraph If you also struggle with alcohol use, you are not alone.
If you’re ready to break free from alcohol, you know that getting treatment is the best option. But how can you afford it?
The good news is that if you have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama insurance coverage, your health insurance can pay some or all of the cost of treatment. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that all long-term insurance plans cover at least some of the cost of 10 essential health benefits, which include mental health and substance use treatment.2, 5th bullet
That means you can count on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama healthcare plans to help you get the care you need.
What Does Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Insurance Cover for Alcohol Treatment?
The right treatment for recovery from alcohol use is different for each person, so it’s important to work with your doctor to create the right treatment plan for your needs. Your plan may be different from others you know, but it’s personalized specifically for your needs.
Some of the most common treatment options include:3
- Screenings and Interventions: Screenings and interventions for alcohol use are important tools in the early detection and treatment of alcohol use disorder. The goal is to help you recognize the impact that alcohol is having on your life and to provide support and resources so you can break free.
- Medical detox: Detox allows you to be monitored by medical professionals as you stop using alcohol and allow it to leave your body. During this process, you are closely supervised to ensure their safety and comfort and to address any complications that may arise. Once you finish detox, you transition into a treatment program to help you achieve long-term recovery.
- Inpatient treatment programs: Inpatient care is an essential part of the recovery process from substance abuse, as it provides a safe and nurturing atmosphere for individuals to start their journey to sobriety. Patients can focus solely on their recovery without the distractions of everyday life, as well as receive 24-hour medical and emotional support.
- Outpatient programs: Outpatient treatment involves regularly scheduled meetings that focus on substance abuse education, relapse prevention, stress management, communication skills, and goal setting. These meetings take place in the mornings or evenings, allowing you to work or attend school during treatment.
- Behavioral Therapies: Behavioral therapy has proven to be effective in treating multiple types of substance use issues, including alcohol use disorder.4, first paragraph The goal of behavioral therapy is to help you identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to alcohol use. Examples include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), contingency management, and couples and family therapy.4, first paragraph
- Treatment for co-occurring disorders: Having a mental health diagnosis along with alcohol use disorder is known as a co-occurring condition. In order to achieve long-term recovery from alcohol use, it’s essential to treat both your mental health and substance use together, and finding a program that supports integrated treatment is vital.5, first paragraph
No matter what treatment options your recovery process includes, what’s most important is to complete each part fully. It’s tempting to stop treatment when you begin to feel better, but fully completing your treatment process gives you the best chance at long-term recovery.
What Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama does not cover for Alcohol Treatment?
To help you achieve long-term recovery, it’s important to use treatment approaches that have been shown to be effective. These types of treatment are known as evidence-based approaches, and these are what your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama addiction treatment coverage will focus on covering.
Insurance generally doesn’t pay for alternative treatment or non-medical care, such as:
- Holistic care services.
- Non-medical amenities.
- Recreation programs.
- Food delivery.
- Alternative therapies.
- Private treatment services.
To keep your costs low and maximize the benefit of your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama rehab coverage, it’s important to choose a rehab program that uses evidence-based treatment. This will also give you the best chance for long-term success.
How Much Does Alcohol Rehab Cost?
The cost of rehab varies depending on a variety of factors. For instance, a longer program with more privacy and amenities will cost more than a shorter rehab program with fewer extras.
What’s more important than cost is that you get the care you need. Be sure you choose a program that’s the right fit for your needs, the right length, and that matches your treatment plan.
Several aspects of treatment affect the cost, including:
- Services offered. Specialized one-on-one care, chef-prepared meals, or unique recreational activities can help you get more benefits from a treatment program, but it will also make the rehab more expensive.
- Intensity of services. An inpatient treatment center is more intensive than an outpatient one, and the extra care will have extra cost. However, this level of care is vital for many people to recover from alcohol use.
- Duration of treatment. The longer a treatment program is, the more it will cost. The longer you’re in treatment, however, the more opportunities you have to develop and practice new habits so that you can stay alcohol-free when you leave rehab.
- Rehab is challenging, and some treatment centers offer amenities to help you relax, such as a swimming pool, gym, basketball court, or specific activities. A treatment center with more amenities is likely to cost more.
Keep in mind that the most important thing about a treatment program is not the cost but the likelihood of you achieving long-term recovery. Be sure to get the care you need to break free from alcohol use—there are always ways to manage the cost, and your insurance plan can help.
Alcohol Rehab vs. the Cost of Alcohol Addiction
Is it worthwhile to pay for rehab when you compare it to the cost of alcohol addiction? Absolutely. Alcohol is very expensive, and as you drink more, you need more of it to get the same feelings. You may get to a point where you need a significant amount of alcohol just to feel normal each day. That daily drinking adds up quickly.
Alcohol can also cause significant health problems that are very expensive. Even with insurance, the cost of repeated medical care for serious health problems adds up quickly.
You may have to miss work due to alcohol use, so you’ll have less income. You may even lose your job entirely. That’s a high price to pay.
And finally, alcohol use can cause legal problems. Whether it’s drinking and driving, drinking too much and getting into a fight, or other issues, you can face legal fees and even jail time. These legal issues cause problems with family, friends, your job, and more.
Clearly, alcohol addiction is far more costly than going to rehab. And then consider the benefits of rehab—you’ll have a life free of addiction where you can be happier, healthier, and more productive as you create a future you’re excited about. There’s no reason not to get the treatment you need.
What Length of Alcohol Rehab Does Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Cover?
How long will you be in treatment? It’s a common question, but the answer is different for each person. Research shows that most people need at least 90 days to make a significant change in substance use, including stopping altogether.6, fifth point That’s why many rehab programs are at least three months long.
However, your treatment program may be longer and include both inpatient and outpatient care. The most important thing is to fully complete your program because it’s tailored to your needs and will give you the best chance at long-term recovery.
Your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama alcohol rehab coverage may have specific requirements or limitations, so it’s important to know the details of your plan before you start rehab. You can reach out to the insurance company directly, or you can contact us at American Addiction Centers (AAC) anytime. We’re available 24/7, and our admissions navigators can verify your insurance in just a few minutes of chatting with you. Feel free to reach out through online chat, over the phone, or by filling out the form below. We’re here to help.
Choosing between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Inpatient vs. Outpatient Alcohol Rehab Centers
Choosing whether to use an inpatient center or outpatient treatment will depend on the recommendation of your doctor. Your doctor will ask about your use history, how much you drink, your home environment, and more to determine the right treatment plan.
Your doctor may recommend you start in an inpatient center for a variety of reasons, including:
- An inpatient center offers a higher level of care than outpatient programs, which can be a great way to get you started
- The treatment ecosystem of an inpatient center allows everything in your environment to be focused on your care
- The other patients in the inpatient program can offer you support as you overcome poor habits and mindsets to break free of alcohol use
- The inpatient setting is more focused, and you’ll have fewer distractions as you work on recovery
- The staff and other patients at an inpatient treatment center help hold you accountable to your recovery goals
You may finish an inpatient treatment program and then follow up with outpatient care to help you maintain your sobriety.
How to Use Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Insurance for Alcohol Rehab?
If you’re ready to get the help you need to break free from alcohol use, and you want to use your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Insurance drug treatment coverage, you might wonder what steps to take. Here’s what you need to know.
Start with making an appointment with your doctor to talk about your alcohol use and create a recovery plan. This will help you understand what programs to look for when it comes to treatment.
Next, look for high-quality treatment plans that match your needs. You might look for programs that treat co-occurring conditions if you have mental health concerns along with alcohol use, for example.
Once you’ve found some programs to consider, take a look at what centers are covered by your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama coverage nationwide. This will give you a large number of options to choose from and give you an opportunity to get further from home for recovery if you’d like to.
Finally, work with the treatment program to use your insurance coverage and make payment arrangements for any costs you have to pay out-of-pocket. You may be able to set up a payment plan, borrow money from friends or family, or even get a scholarship from the treatment center.
Once you’ve taken these steps, you’ll be ready to enter treatment with the peace of mind that you’ve used your insurance coverage and are ready to get the care you need.
How to Find Alcohol Rehabs That Accept Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Insurance
You might wonder how to find treatment centers that accept Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Insurance rehab coverage. As we mentioned above, the best place to start with getting treatment is with your doctor.
From there, you can find out details about your insurance plan by calling BCBS or by contacting the AAC helpline. Our admissions navigators are available 24/7 and can review your insurance plan in just a few minutes.
AAC is proud to operate several high-quality treatment centers nationwide, with top-level care and excellent amenities to make the process easier. If one of our centers is a great fit for your needs, we’d love to be part of your recovery.
You deserve a life free from alcohol use and the risks associated with it. With the right treatment, you can reclaim your life and be excited about setting goals and reaching your dreams. Ready to get started? Contact us today.
Rehabs That Take Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance
American Addiction Centers (AAC) has various rehab facilities around the country that provide drug and alcohol addiction treatment. If you have a Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plan, the following AAC facilities accept Blue Cross Blue Shield for drug and alcohol addiction rehab.
- AdCare Rhode Island: With various facilities located in Rhode Island, AdCare provides innovative, quality, and cost-efficient addiction treatment. Its integrated system of care offers an inpatient treatment center in North Kingstown and a network of outpatient offices throughout Rhode Island. AdCare’s continuum of care includes detox services, residential treatment dual-diagnosis treatment, intensive outpatient services, inpatient and outpatient services, and tele-health.
- Desert Hope Treatment Center: Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, Desert Hope provides individualized care programs as well as offering a full continuum of care including detox services, residential treatment dual-diagnosis treatment, intensive outpatient services, and tele-health.
- Greenhouse Treatment Center: Located in Grand Prairie, Texas, Greenhouse offers individualized treatment plans and many levels of care including detox services, residential treatment, dual-diagnosis treatment, intensive outpatient services, outpatient services, and tele-health, all in a luxurious setting with high-end amenities.
- Laguna Treatment Center: Located in Orange County, California, Laguna is a chemical dependency recovery hospital that focuses on treating people who are medically compromised and need 24/7 oversight. Provided care includes detox services, residential treatment, dual-diagnosis treatment inpatient treatment, and intensive outpatient services.
- Oxford Treatment Center: Located in Etta, Mississippi, Oxford offers gender-specific rehab while offering an opportunity to connect with nature and try new activities. Provided care includes detox, residential treatment, dual-diagnosis treatment, inpatient and outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient services, and tele-health, all with individualized treatment programs.
- Sunrise House Treatment Center: Located in Lafayette Township, New Jersey, Sunrise House provides treatment for people suffering from substance abuse from a medical and holistic standpoint. With various evidence-based therapeutic interventions, personalized care is provided through detox, residential treatment, dual-diagnosis treatment, and outpatient services.
There are various treatment programs for individuals struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, so don’t give up if the first program you check out doesn’t meet your individual needs. There are rehabs near me that can provide the treatment you need. Check out the directory to find a list of facilities and programs. You can search by location and filter by Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance.
Sources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Behavioral health barometer, Alabama.
- Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). What Marketplace health insurance plans cover.
- Findtreatment.gov. (n.d.). Treatment options.
- Carroll KM, Onken LS. Behavioral therapies for drug abuse. Am J Psychiatry. 2005 Aug;162(8):1452-60.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020, April). What are the treatments for comorbid substance use disorder and mental health conditions?
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018, January). Principles of effective treatment.