About 23.5 million Americans suffer from a problem with addiction, per the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. That means that one for every 12 adults deals with this struggle in the U.S. Despite these high figures, only 11 percent of addicted individuals undergo the necessary treatment for substance abuse. The cost of such treatment is a significant factor. Many individuals who need help are unable to afford it. Read on to get the facts about substance abuse and assistance that can be available through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Maine.
Warning Signs That You May Require Rehab
Addictions do not impact any two people the same, but some warning signs make it clear you require help. If you find these symptoms personally or in a family member, you ought to seek out professional assistance through rehab.
- Hiding drug or drinking abuse from friends and family
- Experiencing shame because of substance abuse
- Engaging in hazardous behavior (such as driving while intoxicated)
- Feeling inadequate and so taking drugs or drinking to experience acceptance and love
- Failing in work or school activities
- Experiencing trouble with the police or the law
- Drifting apart from friends and family as a result of substance abuse
If you or your family members are suffering from these problems and you have Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Maine as your insurance carrier, then you could find your policy covers that part or all of the costs for rehab.
Does Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Maine Cover Rehab Costs?
The passage of the Affordable Care Act of 2008 mandated that every insurance company must provide drug and alcohol rehab coverage. Anthem takes pride in its substance abuse rehab coverage completely complying with the law. Their policies deliver comprehensive insurance coverage for both outpatient and inpatient rehab services. Clients’ level of coverage depends on the particular benefits package that they choose. You could have all or part of the costs covered by the policy.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Maine Company History and Background
The merger between Anthem and WellPoint Health Networks (parent of Blue Cross Blue Shield in Maine) dates back to 2004. That was when the two companies joined and secured their place as the country’s leading firm for health benefits provision. The new company was first called WellPoint, Inc. after the merger happened. WellPoint, Inc. opted to change its name to Anthem, Inc. in December of 2014. The reason was that the Anthem brand name is imbued with a legacy of trust. Consumers were best acquainted with Anthem because of the affiliated health care plans.
Today Anthem remains among the most significant health care benefits providing firms in America. The Anthem companies deliver many leading health care solutions under their broad spectrum of health plans and other services that include a significant variety of specialty products. The company is based in Indianapolis in Indiana. It services members in Wisconsin, Virginia, Ohio, New York, New Hampshire, Nevada, Missouri, Main, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia, Connecticut, Colorado, and California. Anthem operates independently as a license holder of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Why Should We Need Rehab Coverage?
For far too many decades, society at large and the medical field held that moral failings and personality weaknesses caused addictions. Subsequent research on addiction treatment demonstrated that this was not the case at all. Nowadays, we know that addiction stems from a chronic disease. That is why it is treatable as with diabetes and heart disease.
Addiction impacts the frontal cortex of the brain. It rewires the processing of reward and pleasure. Such brain function alteration only grows worse with repeat usage of the substance. You can beat the disease with the highest chance of success by undergoing professional treatment at a rehab center. In such away, you can manage the symptoms of addiction to have hope for becoming sober and a contented future.
Focusing on recovery is the most critical element in beginning rehab. If you go through detox while experiencing financial hardship, this increases the stress that contributes to the chances of failing to complete rehab or of relapsing. Because many individuals are already missing work or school in recovery, this makes the stress a game-changer. Clients can concentrate more effectively on improving and improvement when part or all of the treatment cost is covered.
How Does Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Maine Coverage Work?
In nearly all cases, you will have to first pay your deductible before Anthem’s coverage applies to drug or alcohol abuse treatment. Some of their policies will include co-payments or a coinsurance provision as well.
In general, out of the network treatment costs more than in the network treatment will, thanks to coinsurance provisions. The majority of policies will require that you make a pre-determined co-payment to get treatment within the network. Going through an out of the network facility can cost you 50 percent in coinsurance payments. In-network treatment nearly always saves money.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Maine Policy Limitations for Rehab Costs
You should know that there are limitations on how much in total the policy will pay towards rehab treatment. Checking your system will make the amount of this total coverage dollar amount clear. Be aware that specific programs offered in rehab have higher cost shares (out of pocket costs) versus other treatment programs on offer.
What Is Detox?
Detox is the short name for detoxification. The process flushes chemical dependence to alcohol or drugs from your body. It is a crucial first step that must be completed with most rehab treatment programs. Detox can require anywhere from days to even weeks for individual patients. The timetable depends on how severe addiction is.
In this detox, addicts usually suffer from a range of undesirable side effects that can include nausea, anxiety, fever, shaking, seizures, and other symptoms. That is why medical professionals so firmly insist on a detox that is medically assisted so that safety is assured. Besides protecting patients from any unforeseen threat, doctors will prescribe medication that lessens the symptoms’ severity.
What Are the Differences Between Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment?
The costs for inpatient versus outpatient costs vary considerably. You need to understand which of these treatments will work best for your circumstances. The most critical differences between inpatient and outpatient treatment are summed up as follows:
Inpatient Treatment:
- Treatment usually runs between 30 and 90 days total
- Clients have to get a leave of absence from work or school during recovery
- Meals and accommodation are covered in the price
- Daily therapy sessions take place
- Clients can expect to have medical assistance available as needed 24 hours a day
- Clients are removed from the addiction environment
Outpatient Treatment
- Treatment generally takes longer than inpatient treatment
- Organized, scheduled meetings every week allow you to go to school or work and live at home
- Patients bear accountability for their choices
- Outpatient rehab is appropriate for those who have already gone through detox successfully and who can reduce their temptations to consume drugs or alcohol
By selecting your treatment type after careful consideration, you can budget for the out of pocket expenses that your insurance policy might not pay.
Get the Help You Need Today
There is no good reason to suffer the high costs of rehab programs alone. If you or a loved one need rehab treatment, the expenses of treatment do not have to stop you from getting help. Call us today to learn how Anthem can assist you.
