Does BCBS of Illinois cover Alcohol rehab?
Do you feel alone in your struggle with alcohol use? You might be surprised to know that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that between 2017-2019, over 640,000 Illinois residents over the age of 12 struggled with alcohol use disorder in the past year.1, p. 31 second paragraph
The good news is that with treatment, you can break free from substance use. But how do you pay for rehab? If you have BCBS of Illinois insurance coverage, your health insurance can help you pay for the treatment you need. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires all long-term health insurance plans to cover 10 essential health benefits, which include mental health and substance use treatment.2, fifth bullet
Getting the treatment you need is the first step toward creating a life you love, and your BCBS of Illinois rehab coverage can help.
What Does BCBS of Illinois Insurance Cover for Alcohol Treatment?
The treatment you need will depend on your specific history with alcohol, and your doctor will help you create a personalized treatment process. Your program may look different than others, but that’s OK — it’s all about getting the help you need.
Common treatment options include:3
- Screenings and Interventions: It’s important for your doctor to understand how drinking is affecting your life and relationships. Screenings allow your provider to assess your risks and determine the best treatment plan for your needs. Interventions allow your doctor to take immediate action to help you if you can’t enter treatment right away.
- Medical detox: Medical detox from alcohol is a process of safely and comfortably managing the changes in your body when you stop drinking. It involves using a combination of medical treatment and monitoring to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
- Inpatient treatment programs: This comprehensive approach to substance use treatment includes 24-hour medical and emotional support, as well as tailored therapies such as individual and group counseling, psychological assessments, educational programs, and medication management. Inpatient care offers a structured and supportive environment to learn new habits and how to live without alcohol use.
- Outpatient programs: Outpatient treatment typically consists of drug abuse education, individual and group counseling, as well as teaching participants how to cope without their substance use. Therapy usually lasts a few hours per week, and individuals are able to work or attend school during treatment.
- Behavioral Therapies: Behavioral therapy targets the actions you take and the thought processes that lead to those actions. It has proven to be effective in treating substance abuse issues, including alcohol use.4, first paragraph Examples of behavioral therapy include contingency management, CBT, and family therapy.4, first paragraph
- Treatment for co-occurring disorders: If you have a mental health concern alongside your alcohol use, it’s known as a co-occurring condition. To give yourself the best chance at long-term recovery, it’s essential to address both conditions at the same time by finding a treatment center that supports integrated treatment.5, first paragraph
Your treatment process may include more than one of these treatment options. What’s most important is that you follow through and finish your programs completely. It’s common to want to stop treatment when you start to feel better, but that puts you at a much higher chance of relapse. Take the time you need to solidify new mindsets and practice new habits so you can enjoy long-term recovery.
BCBS offers insurance plans in all 50 states, and you may be able to use your BCBS of Illinois coverage nationwide to attend treatment outside of Illinois. Be sure to check the details of your plan before you commit to a treatment program.
What BCBS of Illinois does not cover for Alcohol Treatment
Health insurance focuses on covering evidence-based treatment that’s medically necessary to help you recover.
That means that the following types of care are generally not covered:
- Holistic care services
- Non-medical amenities
- Food delivery
- Recreation programs
- Alternative therapies
- Private treatment services
One of the best ways to maximize your insurance coverage and get effective care is to look for BCBS of Illinois substance abuse providers. They’ll be able to provide the treatment you need to break free from alcohol use.
How Much Does Alcohol Rehab Cost?
The cost of alcohol rehab can vary widely from program to program. Many factors affect the price of a treatment program, such as whether they’re private or state-funded, what amenities are available, and more.
Some of the most important determinants of cost include:
- Services offered. The services provided by the rehab program will impact the price. If you have special services like access to a spa, chef-prepared meals, or unique therapeutic experiences, the program is likely to be more expensive.
- Intensity of services. A program that is more structured and focused will cost more than one with fewer parameters. For example, an inpatient program generally costs more than an outpatient program.
- Duration of treatment. The longer a program is, the more it will likely cost. However, don’t let that keep you from getting the care you truly need to break free. If you need a longer program, you should do it.
- Treatment to overcome alcohol use can be hard work, and many rehab programs offer amenities to help you relax and relieve stress. This might include having a pool, a basketball court, or access to a spa. Programs with more amenities tend to be more expensive.
Be sure you don’t use cost as a reason not to get the care you need. For example, don’t attend a short or lower-intensity program just to save money. If you don’t get the care you need, you could end up returning to rehab, and getting treatment multiple times is far more expensive than getting what you need the first time. There are many ways to pay for rehab, so don’t let cost hold you back.
Alcohol Rehab vs. the Cost of Alcohol Addiction
If treatment programs are expensive, should you just keep drinking instead? Of course not—in fact, the cost of alcohol addiction is significantly higher than the cost of rehab. Not only does the alcohol itself cost a lot of money (and you need more to get the same effect each time), but you also run serious health risks. The cost of being sick and in the hospital is much higher than alcohol use treatment.
You may also end up missing work or even losing your job due to consistent drinking and chronic health problems. And there are legal concerns as well — everything from public drunkenness to DUI can cost you thousands in fines and court fees and may even land you in jail.
As you can see, the cost of alcohol addiction is far higher than the cost of treatment. On top of that, an alcohol-free life gives you the opportunity to create the life you love and pursue your dreams. That opportunity is priceless.
What Length of Alcohol Rehab Does BCBS of Illinois Cover?
How long will you be in treatment? It’s a common question, and the answer is different for everyone. Research shows that most people need at least 90 days to make a significant change in their substance use, including stopping drinking.6, fifth point That’s why many rehabs are three months long. However, your treatment process may be longer and may include both inpatient and outpatient programs.
What’s important is to follow your doctor’s recommendations and fully complete your treatment programs. That will give you the best chance of long-term recovery and will help you avoid having to start over and enter detox and treatment again. Going to rehab multiple times takes far longer than getting the help you need the first time through.
Keep in mind that BCBS of Illinois healthcare plans may have specific limits and requirements for substance use treatment, so you’ll want to get those details before you start your program. You can call the insurance company directly, or you can reach out to American Addiction Centers (AAC) at any time. Our Admissions Navigators are available 24/7 and can verify your insurance in just a few minutes while talking to you.
Feel free to contact us through online chat, over the phone, or by filling out the form below. We want to help you take your first steps on the road to a better life.
Choosing between BCBS of Illinois Inpatient vs. Outpatient Alcohol Rehab Centers
Should you go to an inpatient or outpatient treatment program? The answer will depend on your doctor’s recommendation, which is based on your alcohol use, home environment, and more.
Your doctor may recommend you start with inpatient treatment to help you break free of old habits and create a new life without any temptations or distractions. It can help you make a clean break from the past.
The benefits of inpatient programs include:
- Quality of care: You’ll have highly qualified mental and physical health professionals helping you 24/7
- Treatment ecosystem: The entire inpatient treatment experience is designed to help you create new habits and new ways of thinking
- Support group: The other participants in the treatment program can support you and help you stick to your new way of life
- Focused environment: When you’re at an inpatient treatment program, you’re not distracted by your old life or old friends. You can focus entirely on recovery
- Accountability: You’re in a treatment environment 24/7, and the staff and other participants help hold you accountable to your new choices
Many times, your doctor will recommend you start with an inpatient program to lay a solid foundation for sobriety and then move on to an outpatient program to practice and reinforce your new way of life.
How to Use BCBS of Illinois Insurance for Alcohol Rehab?
The first step is to contact your doctor and set up an appointment to create a treatment plan for overcoming alcohol use. It’s important to be honest with your doctor so that you get the care you truly need for long-term recovery.
Next, you’ll do some research to find a suitable rehab program. You can get recommendations from your doctor or look into high-quality BCBS of Illinois insurance drug treatment centers anywhere in the country.
Once you find a few programs you’re interested in, you’ll want to find out if they accept BCBS of Illinois alcohol rehab coverage. Once you find one that does, you’ll work with them to apply your insurance coverage to the program and pay any leftover out-of-pocket costs.
Don’t let your portion of the treatment costs worry you. Often, the treatment center will allow you to set up a payment plan, or you might be able to get a loan or borrow money from friends and family. What’s important is that you get the care you need right away.
How to Find Alcohol Rehabs That Accept BCBS of Illinois Insurance
How do you know what treatment programs accept your insurance plan? You can call BCBS directly for a list, or ask a rehab program if they accept BCBS of Illinois. However, it may be easier to verify your insurance with AAC.
Our admissions navigators are available 24-7, and they can review your insurance coverage and answer any questions you have about rehab. AAC also operates several high-quality treatment centers around the country that can help you break free from alcohol use.
You deserve a life free of alcohol use, so you can create a life you’re excited about every day. We’d love to help you take the first steps toward freedom. 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, Illinois.
- 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.