Inpatient care tends to have the highest success rate in alcohol and drug recovery, but treatment can be an expensive venture. Because dependency is a multifaceted problem, successful inpatient cures often involve holistic approaches that naturally come with costs. However, by contacting your health insurance company, you can often gather information about coverage to ease your financial burden along with your mind.

Drug Treatment Insurance Tips for Detroit Residents

We’ve gathered a few practical tips to help Detroit residents as they approach their insurance companies to speak about inpatient drug treatment.

• Ask About Your Health Insurance Status
  When you initiate contact with your health insurance provider, take a moment to simply inquire as to the status of your policy. In some cases, late, missing or unprocessed premiums can nullify a policy or cause a lapse in coverage.
• Inquire About Drug Treatment Benefits
  Ask about the benefits offered under your current health care plan for drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Make sure to ask both about outpatient coverage as well as inpatient rehabilitation stays. Many insurance companies will authorize a certain (and often limited) number of days for inpatient addiction treatment, so be specific in your inquiries. Ask your insurance representative about any applicable deductibles and co-payments (sometimes surprisingly high) that may be involved in detoxification and inpatient treatment, counseling sessions or medication. Also make sure to inquire about lifetime or yearly limits to addiction treatment benefits. You might also inquire as to the pre-approval process on extension of residential addiction rehabilitation center stays, should extra days beyond the regular limits be required for successful treatment.
• Take Advantage of Holistic Addiction Treatment Coverage
  Since inpatient addiction treatment can encompass a variety of recovery modalities, it’s to your advantage to ask about insurance coverage of holistic and alternative forms of treatment. Many individuals are surprised to learn that some combination of massage, nutritionist consultations, acupressure or acupuncture, or even meditation workshops can gain coverage under some health insurance plans. Once again, inquire about caps, lifetime and annual limits, and any necessary prescriptions or referrals you must first receive for holistic treatment methods.
• Learn Your Eligibility Requirements
  In some cases, health insurance companies have eligibility requirements that must be met before residential addiction treatment is authorized. Many times, this involves evaluation by a medical professional or therapist in order to first receive a prescription for inpatient care. Additionally, some policies enforce a set of “medical necessity criteria,” allowing the insurance company to dictate appropriate care methods, which can vary by company.
• Request a Duplicate of Your Insurance Card
  Sometimes, during the course of addiction, individuals facing substance abuse simply have let the details of life slide. If you have lost your health insurance card, you may want to request a second copy – though in many cases, the policy number itself will suffice for treatment to commence.
• Receive the Name of Your Care Coordinator
  Insurance companies will provide you with a single point of contact who will manage your care throughout the recovery process. Known as a “care coordinator,” this individual can be indispensable — sometimes even arranging for daycare, alcohol or drug education classes and occupational counseling as part of your addiction treatment recovery. Make sure to receive the name and contact information for the care coordinator you are assigned.