Does Health Insurance Cover Alcohol Rehabilitation? How To Get the Support You Need

You’re in too deep. 

You are constantly fighting a strong urge to drink alcohol, almost always giving in. You spend the majority of your time consuming alcohol, getting alcohol, or recovering from alcohol use. You’re unsuccessful time and time again in cutting down on how much alcohol you drink. 

You need help and it’s time you get it. But you’re worried — does insurance cover alcohol rehabilitation?

Learn about insurance and alcohol rehabilitation and what your options might be for receiving treatment without insurance.

Table of Contents

• Does Insurance Cover Alcohol Rehabilitation?
• 4 Alcohol Rehabilitation Services Commonly Covered By Insurance
• Why Do Insurance Companies Deny Rehab?
• Can You Participate in Alcohol Rehabilitation If You Don’t Have Insurance?
• How To Find Alcohol Rehab That Accepts Your Insurance
• Dove Recovery Accepts Most Major Insurances for Alcohol Rehabilitation

Generally, yes, many health insurance plans will cover the cost of treatment for alcohol rehabilitation but your specific insurance plan will determine how much of that treatment is covered and what your out-of-pocket costs will be.

Whether you have a private or public insurance plan, they are required to provide some coverage. 

Dove Recovery offers a variety of therapy programs for alcohol rehab in Columbus, Ohio. We accept most major insurances, but you can contact us to be sure. Our admissions advisor will talk you through your insurance plan and help you understand what is covered and what your out-of-pocket costs might be.

Alcohol rehabilitation is a broad term that can be covered under a variety of different treatment services. While some are more intensive than others, insurance commonly covers some of the costs for each service. 

It’s important to note that the Affordable Care Act requires all health plans to cover a handful of essential health benefits, including rehabilitation services for substance use disorders like alcohol addiction.

When you choose Dove Recovery as your alcohol rehabilitation treatment center, our doctors will help determine the best rehabilitation service. Then our team will help you understand what your insurance will and will not cover.

#1: Medical Detoxification

During a medical detoxification for alcohol, your body rids itself of the substance. Depending on the severity of your addiction, medical detoxification may be safely and effectively performed in both inpatient and outpatient settings. 

Be aware that during a medical detox, you might experience potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. The severity of your addiction could mean that your detox program is managed around the clock by a team of licensed medical professionals.

Once you’ve successfully completed a medical detoxification, you’ll be stabilized to move on to more intensive types of treatment.

#2: Outpatient Programs

As an outpatient, you’ll attend your program in a facility but remain living at home and going about your daily routines. 

At Dove Recovery, this flexible alcohol rehabilitation treatment option offers patients a personalized, part-time treatment schedule. Typically, outpatient programs are a great option for those who have a great support system in place at home and are at low risk of relapse.

#3: Inpatient (Residential) Programs

Inpatient and residential alcohol rehabilitation treatment programs enable patients to live at the facility so they can receive 24/7 assistance while working toward full recovery. 

While in an inpatient program, you’ll have access to a variety of therapy options to aid in your recovery. The length of an inpatient treatment program varies depending on the severity of an alcohol addiction. Patients are closely monitored to ensure they’re receiving the ideal amount of time with a program for a full recovery.

While most insurances cover some alcohol rehabilitation, be sure to check with your provider to verify how much inpatient treatment will be covered and what might be paid out-of-pocket. Those who qualify for inpatient treatments could require services for a few weeks to a month or for many months to a year.

#4: Aftercare

Once a patient has completed a comprehensive alcohol rehabilitation program, aftercare helps them maintain recovery. Typically, aftercare plans connect patients with a sober individual — commonly referred to as a ‘sober companion’ — group, or support network (like Alcoholics Anonymous).

Other common aftercare plan options include:

• Stepping down to an outpatient program after completing a more intensive program.
• Staying in a sober living facility for some time.
• Attending partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) for therapy or counseling sessions.
• Participating in alumni programs with activities and services that include:some text
  • Sober events
  • Access to a hotline for support
  • In-person or virtual check-ins
  • Online support (apps, email, message boards, social media)

Although many insurance companies must cover alcohol rehabilitation, there are certain one-off scenarios that will cause an insurance company to deny treatment, including:

• The treatment lacks medical necessity.
• An out-of-network provider is being used.
• There is incomplete documentation.

If you have health insurance that you believe covers alcohol rehabilitation and are denied coverage, be sure to read the denial letter carefully. When you fully understand the reasoning behind the insurance company denying coverage, you can explore alternative opportunities to get the treatment you need.

If you do not have health insurance, or your insurance denies you of using insurance to cover your alcohol rehabilitation, Dove Recovery can help you find alternative options to cover the costs of treatment.

Our admission assistant will go over other payment alternatives that are available to help.

• Private pay: With this option, patients fund their own way through alcohol rehabilitation whether through a savings account, acquiring a loan, or requesting financial assistance from family or friends. 
• Grants and scholarships: Some treatment centers offer grants or scholarships to help those in need who don’t have the financial abilities to cover rehab costs. You can check directly with a facility to learn about this funding option. More than 3,500 U.S. rehab centers accept the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, so be sure to ask about it.
• Sliding scale fees: Spread the cost of treatment out over time, making it easier to afford the care you need without insurance. Some facilities might offer sliding scale fees at a reduced cost based on your income. You must qualify for this program, but many treatment programs offer it.‍
• Medicare and Medicaid: Both options typically pay for at least part of alcohol rehabilitation for those who qualify. Many facilities accept both as payment options, so be sure to check with your facility.

Finding an alcohol rehabilitation center that accepts your insurance shouldn’t be a hassle. That’s why Dove Recovery accepts many major insurances and will do our best to work with you if you run into any issues.

If you’re worried about finding a facility that accepts your insurance, a good starting point would be contacting your doctor to talk about your alcohol usage concerns. They’ll help determine what treatment you might need and connect you to in-network rehabilitation centers. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) treatment locator can help you find a facility that works with your insurance. 

You can also contact the addiction hotline (988) where they’ll answer any questions about the alcohol rehabilitation process and how to use your insurance to cover some (or all) of the costs.

Does insurance cover alcohol rehabilitation?

At Dove Recovery in Columbus, Ohio, we do accept many major insurances to cover most — if not all — of your alcohol rehabilitation needs.

We are a premier addiction treatment center offering comprehensive treatment options for a variety of addiction and mental health issues. If you’re unsure if our facility accepts your insurance, our admissions advisor will happily speak with you and talk through your coverage and any expected out-of-pocket costs. 

Dove Recovery offers steadfast support on your alcohol rehabilitation journey. Contact us today to get started.