According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, tens of millions of Americans suffer from addiction to drugs or alcohol. It is a health problem that affects every part of society. If you know someone dealing with addiction, then you are like millions of others who have friends or loved ones struggling to overcome their dependence.
Most of these people are attempting to go it alone. Because rehab costs are out of their reach, they don’t even consider rehab as a treatment option. Fortunately, there is an option. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska offers a variety of choices of coverage at qualified treatment centers. The following information will help you understand more about getting insurance coverage for rehab.
Signs You May Need Rehab
When addiction takes hold of someone, the symptoms manifest just as they do with any other disease. Because some of them are not signs of addiction on their own, it is easy to deny they are signs of dependence. However, when more than one symptom is present, then it is more likely that addiction is the cause.
Some symptoms of addiction include:
- Drinking or engaging in drug use in secret
- Not telling the truth about drinking or drugs
- Missing workdays and performing poorly on the job
- Skipping school and failing
- Destroying important longterm relationships
- Getting in trouble with the law
- Not maintaining personal hygiene standards
Every member of that list points to addiction and the urgent need for medical and mental health attention. Fortunately, treatment is available. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska plans may cover some or all of the expenses of going to rehab.
Do Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska Plans Cover Drug and Alcohol Rehab?
Yes. The plans offered by the BCBS of Nebraska provide different levels of coverage. You can choose which plan best suits your needs and situation. Some policies offer more coverage than others, making it essential to know what level of coverage you get when you buy a plan. Once you have a plan, you can find help from services that connect patients and rehab centers. They explain to you your options based on what coverage you have.
The History of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska
The Associated Hospital Service of Nebraska, established in 1939, was the first incarnation of Blue Cross Nebraska. It was this year that the blue cross became the permanent symbol for Blue Cross Nebraska.
Before Blue Cross, there was Blue Shield, which began on the West Coast at the turn of the century as monthly insurance contracts that covered lumber and mining workers in the Pacific Northwest. The system would eventually evolve into Blue Shield.
At one point, Nebraska Blue Cross and Nebraska Blue Shield worked out of the same office before they became one entity. Their merger occurred in 1974, and in 1982, the national Blue Cross Blue Shield Association came into existence.
Since their union, BCBS of Nebraska has grown and continues to add to a track record of providing and inventing top-notch insurance services and products. Their mission for the future is to keep doing the same.
Why do We Need Rehab Coverage?
The healthcare industry now classifies addiction as an illness. However, it took a while for the industry to accept that addiction should be treated just like any other medical or mental illness.
Years ago, people with drug problems had the justice system as their source of treatment. What awaited them was punishment and shame. Policies such as this had horrible consequences and led to a complete mistrust of the government by people suffering from the disease of addiction.
Today, the healthcare system has taken the reins from the justice system and is providing the care that people have needed for years. BCBS of Nebraska helps make this possible.
How does Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska Rehab Coverage Work?
The state has a list of treatment centers that you may choose for your rehabilitation. You can find them at different locations in Nebraska, and their policies and procedures may differ among one another. For assistance, you can contact services that work to pair patients with treatment centers. They are skilled in the types of rehab coverage offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska and are familiar with many of the rehab centers in the state.
What is Detox?
Detox or detoxification is a necessary step in breaking free of addiction. The body can build up a dependence on alcohol or drugs rather quickly. When it does, parts of the body begin to change. As time goes on and consumption continues, the reliance grows. Soon, it becomes almost impossible to function without the substance in question.
Experienced medical professionals should manage detoxifications. The body becomes sick throughout the process and ceases functioning correctly. Those qualified and trained in helping people through detox know the different stages of the process and what remedies work best for each step.
Detox can last for a few weeks or a few days. Everyone’s case is different, although they all share many of the same characteristics: sickness, anxiety, fever, and sweating. However, once the process is over, the body will begin to function normally without the aid of drugs or alcohol, which is step one in the journey to sobriety.
What are the Differences Between Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment?
Outpatient care means you will be living at home and going to a rehab center or office for treatment about once a week or so. No one is there to monitor you, and all of your decisions are autonomous.
In contrast, inpatient care requires patients to live onsite for 30 to 90 days and make a complete break from most to all communication with the outside world. The setting is medical, and there is urgent care available 24 hours a day. Because the treatment occurs on campus through daily sessions and other activities, inpatient rehab is shorter and more intensive than outpatient.
Get the Help You Deserve Today
If you need treatment for alcohol or drug addiction, treatment is not only a possibility but also a reality. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska insurance plans bridge the cost gap between you and your treatment. Contact us today for more information about addiction and how you can obtain coverage for rehab.
