Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease that affects millions of Americans each year. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 48.7 million people have a substance use disorder in 2022.[1]
The best way to overcome addiction is to attend professional treatment. Unfortunately, there are countless reasons that people avoid getting the help they need. One of those reasons is money.
Programs like medical detox centers can be costly. You have to cover the costs of medical treatments, medications, daily meals, and housing. Thankfully, there is a way to make medical detox in Texas more affordable.
Because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurance companies must cover addiction treatment services like medical detox. If you cannot afford to pay for detox out-of-pocket, you can go through your insurance and have most of the cost covered. However, this might mean you need to find an in-network detox program that works with your insurance company.
What you will learn:
- Whether insurance covers medical detox in Texas
- What the Affordable Care Act is
- How to use your insurance to pay for detox
Does Insurance Cover Detox in Texas?
For years, the families of people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction were forced to pay for addiction rehab programs out-of-pocket. This made it close to impossible for some people to get the help they needed. Additionally, it’s caused people to believe that attending a treatment facility is out of reach for their family.
According to a study, 43% of people who needed addiction treatment did not receive professional treatment.[2]
While medical detox services in Texas can be expensive, it is possible to have insurance cover most of the cost. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurance companies must offer coverage for addiction treatment. This is because substance abuse is considered an essential health benefit under the law.[3]
Now that insurance companies cover treatments for mental health and substance abuse, you do not have to worry about not being able to afford a medical detox program. While the level of coverage you receive depends on the type of insurance plan you have, there will always be some form of coverage to rely on.
Using Insurance to Pay for Detox
Thankfully, insurance companies have to cover drug and alcohol addiction treatment. But how does it work? If you are wondering how to use insurance to pay for detox in Texas, you’ve come to the right place.
The easiest ways to guarantee your detox program is covered include:
Contact Your Provider
First, you should contact your insurance provider. Ask them what level of coverage is offered by drug and alcohol rehab programs. Let them know you will be attending a medical detox center and ask them for an estimate on how much coverage they will offer.
Depending on your specific type of insurance, they might require you to see an “in-network” treatment provider. This just means they will offer you a list of local detox programs that will accept your insurance. You can choose which detox center you’d like to attend from the list of in-network rehab facilities.
Ask the Treatment Center to Verify Your Benefits
If you have a specific treatment center in mind, you should call them to verify your benefits. You will speak with an admissions counselor who can run your insurance through the system. All you’ll have to do is provide them with the insurance information from your insurance card.
Once they verify that their program takes your insurance, you can ask to be enrolled in the program. Depending on whether the detox facility has an immediate opening, you can begin treatment as soon as possible.
How to Tell if You Need Drug and Alcohol Detox in Texas
Sometimes it can be difficult to determine if you truly suffer from addiction. Substance use disorders affect your brain in a manner that often clouds your judgment. You might think that you can stop using drugs and alcohol at any time.
If you are unsure whether you need medical detox services, watch out for the following signs:
- Being unable to control how often or how much you abuse drugs and alcohol
- Wanting to quit or cut back on substance abuse but being unsuccessful
- Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities to abuse drugs and alcohol
- Failing to meet responsibilities at home, school, or work because of drug and alcohol abuse
- Experiencing strong urges and cravings to misuse substances
- Getting into risky situations when you drink or use drugs
- Continuing to use substances despite facing adverse physical or mental health effects
- Dealing with interpersonal relationship issues because of your substance abuse
- Needing to increase the dose of drugs or alcohol to experience a desired effect
- Dealing with withdrawal symptoms when you stop using drugs or alcohol
If you experience these symptoms, you need to attend a medical detox program. Once you complete detox, you should transition into an inpatient rehab center that can help you overcome the root causes of your addiction.
Get Connected to a Detox Center in Texas that Takes Your Insurance
If you or a loved one suffers from drug and alcohol abuse, it’s time to consider professional help. At Alamo Behavioral Health, we offer a highly-rated detox center that accepts a wide range of insurance plans.
Contact us today to verify whether our medical detox program accepts your insurance.
References:
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): HHS, SAMHSA Release 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Data
- National Council for Mental Wellbeing: 2022 Access to Care Survey
- Office of National Drug Control Policy: Substance Abuse and the Affordable Care Act