Will Insurance Companies Pay for Residential Drug Treatment in Full?

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Will Insurance Companies Pay for Residential Drug Treatment in Full?

How many of you went to drug treatment and faced additional charges or were discharged too soon because of insurance issues? In our society, addiction treatment has not been seen as medically necessary and therefore the bare minimum is applied for insurance payout benefits. Today, with increasing numbers of people addicted to both illegal and legal drugs, insurance companies must acknowledge that drug treatment has to cover more than just detox. The Essential Health Benefits rule of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, offers better coverage for mental health, including addiction treatment.  This is great for the addicted community because it may help with drug treatment costs and prevent premature discharges because of insurance issues. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius estimated that 30 million people who already have some mental health coverage would see improvement in their benefits. By 2014,  all insurance providers must incorporate the list of benefits outlined in the Essential Health Benefits rule into their policies. By then, insurers will have an idea if Sebelius’ estimation is accurate of those individuals who see improvements in their coverage. This act should make residential drug treatment, in addition to detox, more affordable. I don’t know if you will be able to be reimbursed or receive full payment by your insurance company, but this bill is good to know for future reference. Share your thoughts with us below or on our Facebook page.