Drug Rehab Reimbursements Drug Rehabilitation

Drug Rehab Reimbursements

Drug Rehabilitation and Health Insurance

The good news for individuals with substance abuse problems who wish to make a positive life change and embark upon the process of recovery is that most major insurance companies offer coverage for in -- and outpatient rehabilitation programs. The federal medical leave act also allows individuals to take time off from work and enroll for a drug rehab program ("How Do I pay for a Drug Rehab," Therapist Unlimited, 2007). For residents of the state of Oregon, beginning in 2007, all insurance companies within the state (including most major insurance companies and the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool) must provide the same coverage for mental health and addiction treatment that they provide for general health conditions. The federal Mental Health Parity Act prohibits discriminatory annual and lifetime dollar caps for mental health benefits as compared with other medical and surgical benefits but the Oregon law requires insurers to provide coverage for treatment of chemical dependency and alcoholism with limitations no more restrictive the coverage or reimbursement of expenses arising from treatment for other medical conditions. The 2007 Oregon law also stipulates that deductibles and coinsurance for inpatient or outpatient treatment may not be greater than those under the policy for the treatment of other ailments (Oregonians Gain Benefit of Parity MH Coverage, APA, 2007).

However, the 'bad' news is that on the federal level, health insurers like BlueCross BlueShield Association, United Healthcare Corp., WellPoint Health Networks, and the trade group America's Health Insurance worked aggressively to defeat federal legislation that was equally all-encompassing in its coverage. "Combined, the groups spent more than $13 million last year lobbying [the U.S. Congress] on issues that included mental-health parity ("Health Insurers Block Mental Health Parity Bill," Drug Rehabs, 2007). Furthermore, many addicted individuals do not have strong insurance coverage or any coverage at all. "Most drug abuse victims often come to the rehab center only when their addiction ruins everything good they ever had in their lives. This includes broken relationships and jobs. Without any money in the pocket and with practically nil support from your friends and family, it can be extremely difficult to pay for your drug rehab program" ("How Do I pay for a Drug Rehab," Therapist Unlimited, 2007).

However, not all facilities are prohibitively costly. Serenity Lane in Eugene, Oregon, proclaims as part of its marketing and advertising plan that it accepts almost all insurance plans, and trumpets the fact that it offers value deals like the "ExSL (Long-Term Program)" that requires only a relatively modest fee of $6,495 per 30 day period, with a 60 day recommended minimum stay" and "partial financing available and a $500 discount for paying cash up front" (Treatment Costs at Serenity Lane," Official Website, 2007). In contrast, a stay of the same duration at the more famous Betty Ford Center is $23,000 ("Programs," the Betty Ford Center, 2007).