By: Lakeview Health
Financial concerns can hold some people back from seeking the help that they need for substance use disorder. There is a lot to consider when making the decision to go to treatment and finding a center that works for you in terms of care type, location, and therapeutic offerings. Many are often worried that treatment will not be affordable or covered by insurance. Insurance jargon can be confusing and complex, showering people with terminology about deductibles, co-payments, and what is in-network and out-of-network. There is no question that navigating your insurance policy can feel overwhelming, especially when balancing it with the difficult decision to attend residential drug or alcohol rehab.
To help our patients with insurance so that they can focus on their recovery, Lakeview Health has a dedicated team of physicians who work hand-in-hand with insurance companies to make the approval process as streamlined as possible. In addition, Lakeview Health partners with best-in-class insurance providers such as Cigna and Aetna to act as a Center of Excellence (COE) for their members who need addiction treatment.
Not only do these partnerships allow us to serve a broader patient network, they also help to alleviate patients’ financial worries. This is because when a medical provider is in-network with an insurance carrier, the two have worked together to negotiate agreed-upon costs for services. This agreement typically leads to lower out-of-pocket expenses for patients.
Does Insurance Cover Drug or Alcohol Rehab?
Most people are familiar with the process for using health insurance to cover routine visits to the doctor or prescriptions, but many are often uncertain where to begin when looking for a drug or alcohol rehab center. Fortunately, most insurance plans do cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment. The next question most people ask is which centers take their insurance plan. One of the fastest ways to check is to call us at Lakeview Health, and within a few minutes we can let you know if we accept your insurance and provide any costs involved based on your plan.
Partnerships to Improve Care
One of the cornerstones of our philosophy at Lakeview Health involves removing barriers to treatment. This approach to care has allowed us to help more than 25,000 people achieve recovery from substance use disorder. One component is making entering treatment a seamless process for patients. Our team of Utilization Review specialists allow physicians and therapists to spend less time on back-end paperwork and more time doing what matters most: caring for patients. This allows patients to receive the care that they need without having to deal with insurance companies on their own.
A Team-Based Approach to Care
Our Utilization Review team is comprised entirely of physicians that advocate for and relay patient care needs to their insurance providers. This benefits patients in several ways including:
- It allows patients to focus on their care, knowing that they have Lakeview physicians working with insurance companies on their behalf.
- Patients can receive the care that they need, and any denied claims are addressed with the insurance company in a peer-to-peer review process.
- This practice supports our evidence-based care model with additional physicians reviewing patient treatment plans.
- Therapists and medical staff have more time to spend with patients while our Utilization Review team works to negotiate treatment with insurance carriers.
While coverage varies by plan type, it’s important to remember that there are many different types of drug and alcohol treatment with inpatient and outpatient options. The one that will be best for you depends on a number of factors including the length and severity of addiction, availability of FLMA or leave from work, and a willingness to leave home.
If you or a loved one is contemplating entering treatment, don’t let questions around insurance stop you. Contact Lakeview Health today at 866.374.0561 or complete our insurance verification form to learn more.
Sources: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/get-help/health-insurance#:~:text=Answer%3A%20As%20of%202014%2C%20most,and%20substance%20use%20disorder%20services.
