Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance Coverage for Addiction Treatment

Using Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance Coverage to pay for addiction treatment: One of the first things that someone thinks of when considering going to treatment for substance or alcohol abuse is the cost of the program. Substance abuse treatment can be very expensive. Fortunately, your Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plan will cover alcohol and substance abuse treatment. Treatment could be free or at a fraction of the costs that you would expect. Our addiction treatment specialists can help you find treatment options for substance abuse and mental health disorders that your insurance plan will cover. We work with programs that are both in-network and out-of-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance. If you would like to verify your benefits yourself,  you can call the phone number on the back of your insurance card, or log into your BCBS insurance portal and verify what your specific plan will cover there. You can also call us to find out if there are any drug rehab centers nearby that take Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance. If you would like to find out more about drug rehab programs near you, give us a call and we can get your insurance verified today.

1-800-513-5423

What you will learn:

• What is Blue Cross Blue Shield?
• About Blue Cross insurance
• Does Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance cover substance abuse treatment?
• Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover inpatient rehab?
• Will BCBS cover suboxone doctors and medication-assisted treatment programs?
• Will Blue Cross Blue Shield pay for outpatient rehab?
• Does BCBS cover therapy?
• How to find out what your plan will cover

What is Blue Cross Blue Shield?

Blue Cross Blue Shield owns roughly 36 or more insurance companies, nationwide, locally operated, and independent insurers, all of which make up the Blue System. BCBS covers over half of all federal workers and employees as part of the federal employment program.

The tiered plans of Blue Cross Blue Shield are as follows:

Bronze: This level covers around 60% of medical costs, with a low monthly payment and a high deductible.

Silver: This level covers around 70% of medical costs, with a slightly higher monthly payment and lower deductible.

Gold: This level covers around 80% of medical costs, with a higher monthly payment and low deductible.

Platinum: This level covers around 90 of medical costs, with the highest monthly payment and the lowest deductible.

About Blue Cross insurance

Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance started to offer health insurance plans in 1929 and has since evolved into one of the most recognized insurance carriers in the nation. Their ever-evolving insurance coverage is a testament to the longevity of the company. Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) companies are committed to providing you with access to high-quality, affordable healthcare coverage. They are the nation's oldest, most experienced health insurers, partnering with hospitals and doctors to serve Americans in the communities where they live and work.

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance cover substance abuse treatment?

Blue Cross Blue Shield does cover treatment for substance abuse as well as mental health treatment programs. BCBS is one of the larger insurance companies that are well known. Blue Cross coverage varies from state to state and plan to plan. It is recommended that you contact them directly with questions regarding your coverage.

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover inpatient rehab?

Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance generally covers inpatient rehab. There are many types of inpatient treatment programs available. Levels of care offered include dual-diagnosis treatment programs, long-term rehab stays, and short-term drug rehab. All of which may be covered by your BCBS plan.

Will BCBS cover suboxone doctors and medication-assisted treatment programs?

When it comes to medication-assisted treatment programs, Blue Cross Blue Shield will pay for this type of treatment depending on the plan and doctor acceptance. Without insurance, suboxone costs anywhere from $60 to $200.

Suboxone is a medication that combines Buprenorphine and Naloxone. Many physicians use this drug to help patients who are currently suffering or have had past opioid addictions. Acting as a partial agonist it binds itself to the body’s opioid receptors and produces a minimal effect over a longer period. General opioids like Fentanyl, heroin, or prescription opioids are full agonists and can be abused. When taking suboxone it blocks opioid receptors, preventing prescription opioids from entering the receptor. This has led to a lower risk of overdose as the drug does not produce a high in people who use opioids.

Will Blue Cross Blue Shield pay for outpatient rehab?

Outpatient services can include a wide variety of services and levels of care based on the (ASAM) continuum of care. Their basic outpatient programs are at level 1 which range from .5 up to a 4 with level 1 being basic outpatient services. Level 2 is also considered outpatient rehab services that include intensive outpatient rehab services, and partial hospitalization day treatment programs. In traditional outpatient rehabs, clients stay in their own homes or residences and attend individual therapy sessions and group therapy meetings. Level 1 treatment programs generally involve fewer than 9 hours of treatment per week.

IOP treatment programs are very similar to level 1 outpatient services, but they are more of an intensive program and are considered a midway point between outpatient rehab and inpatient rehab. In these programs, you still stay at your residence and go to therapy or meetings while enrolled in the program. PHP programs provide less intensive care than inpatient rehab but offer higher levels of care than outpatient programs. Some PHP programs will have a residence with 24-hour support, recreational activities, sober fun, and monitoring for those who want to recover without the added pressures of being at home during treatment. The best way to determine what your coverage is for outpatient treatment is to contact BCBS directly or reach out to us and we can verify your insurance for you.

Does BCBS cover therapy?

The ACA thankfully made it so all health insurance providers must offer substance abuse disorder and mental health services. Any plan that is purchased through the
marketplace can’t have a cap on the amount of substance abuse or mental health treatment a person can have covered. BCBS and other insurance providers do generally cover therapy including substance abuse counseling. As aforementioned the insurance coverage amount is dependent on the plan you have chosen.

How to find out what your plan will cover

Blue Cross Insurance has many different insurance plans, all with different coverage rates and deductibles. Depending on your plan your addiction treatment program may be covered. Facilities all over the country, offer various levels of care including detox, inpatient treatment, outpatient, and more. To find out what your Blue Cross insurance plan covers, and how much your deductible will be, if any, give us a call and we can help. Your insurance provider will not be contacted until you are ready to enter one of our programs. Your employer will never be notified if you decide to use your insurance to enter into a treatment facility for drug or alcohol misuse. Your private medical information is protected by HIPAA laws which do not allow for the sharing of your medical history or mental health history.

1-800-513-5423

Sources

HIPAA Privacy Rules

Medications, Counseling, and Related Conditions

Erik Epp – Content Author