Paying for addiction treatment is no more fun than paying any medical bill, but it’s always easier when you have some form of health insurance to pay the brunt of the cost for you. But for addicts who don’t have robust health insurance plans, this can leave them on the hook for significant costs depending on what other payment options are in place.
For some, though, Medicaid covers most of their health needs, leading to a simple question: does Medicaid cover drug rehab? Here’s everything you need to know.
Medicaid is fairly well known to most people, even if a lot of them can’t remember the difference between Medicaid and Medicare (Medicare is for the elderly, while Medicaid is a need-based government health program based on income). But like many government programs, it can be easy to lose track of what it does and does not provide assistance for, leaving Medicaid users unsure of whether they can get certain things covered.
And that can include addiction treatment. Drug rehab is not necessarily a cheap budget item, but for those in the throes of substance abuse, it can be an absolutely necessary one. So it becomes not just an idle question, but a vital query, when determining if Medicaid can cover the costs of a drug rehab program.
Luckily, the simple answer is yes. Less fortunately, the qualified answer is yes but with conditions.
Federal guidelines actually require Medicaid to pay for most behavioral health costs, including drug and addiction treatment. But there are various hoops to jump through on that basic requirement and navigating them all can be complicated.
While Medicaid will pay for drug rehab, it won’t necessarily cover all the costs to the last penny. Some programs won’t accept Medicaid, while others will only accept it up to a certain price point, requiring the patient to cover the balance and potentially being on the hook for a big, unexpected bill.
The important thing is, when looking for a drug rehab program, you can call knowing most of them will accept Medicaid to some degree. But calling and asking HOW much Medicaid will cover is a good idea to ensure you don’t get saddled with a bill you didn’t anticipate when you’re leaving treatment.
Good Landing Recovery does accept Medicaid for treatment options, but it’s important to discuss that ahead of time before beginning treatment. Their billing department will happily explain how much Medicaid will do for you and if you’ll have other expenses to worry about, and will work with you to ensure you aren’t left holding the check someone else should be covering.
Getting addiction treatment shouldn’t be difficult and Medicaid is there to help those patients who have it get what they need without paying out the nose for it. Just make sure you know what it’s paying for and what it’s not.