Drug addiction is a complex medical problem that takes a huge toll on everyone it touches. As someone who has probably experienced it firsthand or witnessed it affecting the life of a loved one or social circle, you most likely don’t need to be reminded of the menace addiction can unfurl in people’s life. Granted, the emotional, physical and financial damages resulting from a long standing or recurring addiction can find sobriety.

With the right kind of drug addiction treatment and support system, almost anyone can turn the tide against substance abuse and the adverse impact it has on their quality of life.

Most addictions – be it alcoholism, drug abuse, gambling, or sex addiction – often simultaneously give rise to other equally menacing mental health problems such as depression, chronic anxiety, ADHD etc. What’s even worse is the additional burden of having to arrange to pay for drug addiction treatment that produces lasting results.

It’s unfortunate that a lot of good men and women out there who would be otherwise willing to fight off their drug addiction give in due to the lack of reliable funds to help them through one of the hardest times in their life. What’s even more unfortunate is that they don’t have to concede defeat– not due to the lack of funding at least. There are many mental health insurance providers that offer insurance coverage for alcohol and drug addiction.

Contrary to common misconceptions, several avenues are available for people whose insurance plans do not cover mental health care insurance. These include:

For addicts whose insurance doesn’t cover substance or behavioral addiction treatment plans, the option of public insurance is always available. Public insurances are designed to make inpatient treatment considerably more affordable compared to the actual treatment expenses without insurance coverage.

Under such government schemes, designated treatment facilities are partially or fully subsidized by the government. All these facilities accept federal or state medical insurance plans for partial or full payment of services. The only catch is that the government has placed specific income guidelines for these schemes. Therefore, it’s advisable that clients should first contact the rehab facility they plan to enroll in to make sure they are actually eligible for public insurance programs for that addiction rehab center. Alternatively, they could also get in touch with the right public insurance agency to ascertain that.

Just in case drug rehab options aren’t available or practical, there are also several nonprofit organizations all across the United States that facilitate rehab services against affordable monthly installment plans. Because it is possible to continue paying the monthly installments long after the rehab program has finished, the amount doesn’t put the patient in any major financial burden.

Private insurance plans refer to all those health insurance schemes paid for by an individual person (or an employer). Such mental health insurance plans are not subsidized by the federal government or any affiliated agency, making them comparatively more expensive than public insurance plans for drug addiction treatment.

The benefits of option for a private insurance plan include:

Among all the rehab programs covered by private insurances, the following three enjoy the highest popularity:

These addiction treatment programs are useful in getting the addict useful out of their usual dangerous environment and placing them in a designated facility along with other addicts for an extended period. The stay can last as long as the patient is believed to have been successfully rehabilitated.

Such facilities offer luxurious amenities as the patients receive their detox and counseling. Obviously, they are more expensive than a regular facility, but also have their perks in the form of private rooms, fine cuisines, dedicated health instructor, as well as other services.

These rehab programs encompass traditional Eastern practices in addition to the usual treatment and counseling. They may include practices with Eastern included such as yoga, herbal treatment, acupuncture, and so on.

Group insurance programs often offer coverage for addiction rehab. Such programs are particularly handy for those hesitant to grab on to the benefits they are entitled to for the fear of losing their employment and being vulnerable to social shame.

According to the Mental Health parity and Addiction Equity Act (2008), health insurance companies are mandatorily required to balance the drug and alcohol addiction treatment for group plans to the stipulation for standard medical rehab for mental health conditions.

Major insurance companies that offer coverage for drug and alcohol addiction treatment include:

While there is hardly any doubt that mental health is just as important to our overall well being as physical health is, insurers haven’t always seen it that way. Just until a few years back, most health insurance companies were more focused on providing better coverage for physical ailments than they did for any psychological or mental health issues. The status quo, however, has undergone significant changes in the past few years after the Mental Health parity and Addiction Equity Act (2008) was introduced.

The law, also referred to as the mental health parity law or simply federal parity law, makes it mandatory for insurance companies to offer coverage for behavioral health, mental health, and substance-use disorders.

Unlike the parity laws in some states, the federal parity law is applicable to all substance use disorder and mental health issues covered by a health plan. However, keep in mind that certain diagnoses may be excluded from a health plan – these may include both physical and mental/behavioral diagnosis. In such cases, the insurer you sign a contract with is legally bound to inform you about the exclusions in advance. If you are not certain whether or not a specific diagnose is covered by your mental health insurance providers, ask them upfront about it.

The ideal way to go about this is to check with your mental health insurance provider or HR department for the specific details about your coverage. While discussing the specifics, keep the following pointers in mind for reference:

In conclusion, these are some of the basic information you need to educate yourself with before arranging to pay for a drug addiction treatment. Remember, there are plenty of options out there – both private and government funded – ready to provide you with adequate funding and support in your battle against addiction. All you have to do is reach out and determine the best course of action in your specific condition, preferably under the guidance of an expert.