Paying for Drug and Alcohol Rehab With Beacon Insurance
Beacon Health Operations Inc. is a unique type of health insurance provider that specializes in behavioral health solutions, including treatment for mental illnesses and substance abuse treatment. The organization supplies coverage to health insurance providers and companies, which can then be accessed by individual consumers seeking care.
Paying for rehab is one of the greatest barriers to treatment; it’s so large, in fact, that many people will avoid seeking out services because they are unemployed or uninsured. Although Beacon does not cover the entire cost of treatment in most cases, it can give individuals the much-needed financial support they need to enter rehab.
What Beacon Covers
Substance use disorder treatment is a large focal point of Beacon’s behavioral health services. This includes both medically supervised detox and the actual treatment program itself. Granite Recovery Centers provides medical detoxification for people who do not need immediate medical intervention, are not a danger to themselves, and are capable of self-evacuation in the event of an emergency.
Beacon’s programs aim to help patients through every step of the recovery process. This means giving them access to a trustworthy, supportive detox center followed by compassionate, personalized care at a rehab center. The right treatment can make the difference between sobriety and relapse, so Beacon works with a wide range of providers to give people the variety they need to make the best choice for their recovery.
Beacon’s health insurance coverage generally includes:
- Screening and assessments for substance use disorders and related mental health conditions
- Detox and medications
- Intervention therapies
- Inpatient and residential rehab programs
The exact limits of each type of coverage will vary based on the specific plan a person has. Beacon does have associated out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles, co-pays and coinsurance.
What Type of Drug Addictions Does Beacon Cover?
The DSM-V recognizes 10 types of substance use disorders, and Beacon provides coverage for all of the major drug addictions that afflict people. This includes alcohol use disorder, benzodiazepines, prescription opioids, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines and marijuana dependency.
There are a variety of rehabs for people to choose from when treating any of these addictions or a combination of them. Independence and autonomy are crucial elements in recovery; if people do not feel that they have a choice in their treatment options, they may be less likely to fully participate or even begin the recovery process at all.
Beacon’s insurance options provide enough coverage that individuals can search within a network to find rehab programs that align with their own beliefs, needs and treatment goals. By giving people this level of choice regarding their treatment, outcomes are more likely to be positive and long-standing.
Types of Addiction Treatment Beacon Covers
Just as substance use disorders vary in intensity, addiction treatment programs do as well. The duration, intensity and types of techniques used in a rehab program will depend on an individual’s presenting problems, any co-occurring mental illnesses and the type of treatment they’re most willing to participate in. Some people may not be ready to go to a residential treatment program although they are open to getting help. In this case, outpatient therapy in a group setting can serve as the stepping stone in treatment.
Beacon’s rehab coverage typically covers inpatient and partial hospitalization programs, but there are some levels of outpatient treatment coverage as well. Because intensive intervention tends to have the greatest impact on a person’s recovery, Beacon places greater emphasis on covering this type of treatment.
Inpatient Rehab
For any type of addiction, a 30- to 90-day stay at a residential rehab can be life-changing. Many might be skeptical that few months living in a treatment facility can help them stop years of substance abuse, but the level of care and structure provided during that time period have lasting effects. Even more importantly, the change of environment can give people the clarity they need to see the impact of their addiction.
There is round-the-clock support from both professionals and fellow members. Although some may struggle to connect with others in treatment initially, most inpatient treatment centers promote a sense of community and encourage people to find comfort and hope in one another’s stories.
Many inpatient treatment centers also provide detox services, which is important considering the fear and anxiety that withdrawal symptoms cause most individuals. Withdrawal occurs when someone stops taking a substance and their body reacts negatively. Physical dependence builds up over time, leaving people feeling ill and even in pain for a period after quitting their drug or alcohol use.
Signs of withdrawal that a detox center or inpatient rehab can help treat include:
- Muscle spasms and aches
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Chills
- Seizures
- Anxiety
- Depression and suicidal thoughts
In addition to detox and treatment, most residential rehabs also offer life skills training and relapse prevention therapy. This helps people transition back into society with the resources they need to make positive, lasting changes like getting a job or building healthy relationships with sober people.
Partial Hospitalization Programs
One step down from residential treatment is partial hospitalization programs. These programs give people a comparable level of therapy and medical support to inpatient rehabs but give them the comfort of returning to their homes in the evening. The type of therapies used are typically the same ones found in inpatient centers, so this type of treatment is ideal for someone who requires the intensity of a residential program but has a family, mental illness or health condition that prevents them from living away from home for a prolonged period of time.
Outpatient Addiction Treatment
An outpatient center is not ideal for those with moderate to severe substance use disorders, but these programs can help people with emerging conditions who are able to exercise greater control over their use. Although some centers offer intensive, day-long programs, the majority of outpatient rehabs are designed to act as follow-up care for people in recovery. Professionals meet with patients several times a week in groups and also offer individual substance abuse counseling. They may also help people manage medications related to their addiction like methadone.
How Much Do You Have to Pay With Beacon?
Although Beacon often covers a large portion of treatment services, there are still out-of-pocket costs to be aware of.
Deductible
The deductible is the amount of money a person has to pay before insurance starts. If your plan has a $5,000 deductible, this means you must pay $5,000 out of your own pocket before Beacon covers the rest. Although this might seem like a lot, the consumer’s deductible is only a small percentage of the total cost to the provider. Even paying only a quarter of the cost of treatment makes it far more accessible than it would be without coverage.
Co-pay
Co-pays are how much you pay for services after you meet your deductible. Although some forms of health care may be free after your deductible is met, others will still have a co-pay, such as $75 per doctor’s visit. In some plans, patients are able to pay co-pays rather than the full cost of services even before they meet their deductible. This can reduce the cost of care drastically, sometimes cutting the cost in half.
Coinsurance
Similar to a co-pay, coinsurance is the amount of money people pay for services after their deductible has been met. Co-pays are a set rate for different types of services, for example, $150 for lab work. Coinsurance, on the other hand, is an agreed-upon percentage that you pay for every type of service after your deductible is met. Coinsurance payments typically range from 20 to 50% of the total cost of a treatment or service.
Be aware that Beacon providers may require you to receive an addiction or mental health assessment from a medical doctor before the insurer agrees to pay for any rehab or therapies. This is known as preauthorization, and it tells providers whether the treatment a patient is opting for is medically necessary.
Does Beacon Cover Out-of-Network Rehabs?
An insurance network is a group of providers and medical facilities that accept a form of health insurance coverage. In-network providers are generally more affordable. Insurance companies that still cover out-of-network treatment often charge more for their services and may have coverage restrictions.
Beacon Health Options Inc. has its own network of rehab facilities and treatment providers. The provider does not currently extend any coverage out-of-network. Although this may be a concern to some, the dynamic and diverse network that Beacon covers can help people find the right match for their needs.
You do not have to worry about paying for services that your insurance doesn’t cover; before you admit to a rehab, the staff performs insurance verification to ensure that your coverage is applicable.
Does Beacon Cover Sober Living Housing?
Many patients are not fully ready to return to their old environments after completing a rehab program. Although inpatient treatment can successfully end a person’s dependency on a drug, there is still a great amount of work to be done regarding their mental health, resilience and relapse prevention.
To help people gradually integrate back into society, many rehab facilities offer sober living accommodations, also known as transitional housing. Sober living is a form of aftercare that also includes individual counseling, medications and group therapy at an outpatient rehab. The type of plan you have from Beacon will determine whether or not you are eligible for sober living coverage.
Some people may find that their plan covers the cost of treatment but not aftercare; in these cases, they would have to pay the weekly or monthly rent on their own. Most sober living homes have affordable rates that help people keep a roof over their head while saving up money to move into a place of their own.
There are often sliding scales available for many rehab services as well; this means that you will be charged based on your insurance, income and ability to pay rather than being denied access to treatment. In some cases, you may be able to work out a rental agreement that allows you to pay less or make repayments once you’ve gained employment.
Learn More About Beacon and Addiction Recovery
Beacon is just one form of health insurance and means of covering the cost of rehab. There are also different types of providers, sliding scales, financing options and even scholarships that can completely cover the cost of treatment.
Getting treatment for any type of substance use disorder can be hard enough. Financial issues shouldn’t be the reason you don’t seek out help. To learn more about addiction treatment options and to find rehabs that accept your insurance, contact us today. We can help you begin your path to recovery.
