Kaiser Permanente is a healthcare system, which does operate out of eight states and Washington D.C. Kaiser Permanente does provide health insurance using its system of doctors and hospitals. This insurance company does have some of the lowest rates and many choices when compared to other health insurance providers. Kaiser Permanente allows its members to choose their doctor, and they can change this doctor at any time. Doctors can be chosen from adult medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics or family medicine. There are also many services that are provided under one roof, and most of the facilities offer a wide variety of care and services, to allow members to address multiple healthcare needs at once. The plans provided by Kaiser Permanente do help with preventative screenings, routine appointments, and other programs such as health classes, wellness coaching, and healthy lifestyle programs. Some of the healthcare plans can help those who are battling mental health issues and substance abuse and pay for some of the cost of treatment.
Health insurance plans often come with different levels of coverage, and many operate as bronze, silver, gold, and platinum plans. Within each specific plan, the type of coverage and services that are covered will vary. There will be different monthly premiums that may go up or down, and of course change depending on the plan. Most health insurance plans have deductibles to help cover some of the cost of drug rehab, but the patient will be paying the deductible. Health insurance will often pay a percentage of the services rendered, and the patient will pay the remaining amount. For example, the health insurance company will pay 80% of the remaining balance, and the person receiving the services will pay the other 20%. Substance abuse is a problem for millions of Americans, and with the right help, an addict can successfully overcome his or her addiction. Drug and alcohol addiction impacts millions of people in the United States, and roughly 10 to 11 percent of these individuals seek out help.
One of the more common barriers for people struggling with addiction who want help is the financial barrier. Private drug treatment can be expensive, and even state-financed programs can cost something. Health insurance, whether it is private insurance or operated through state programs will help cover some of the cost of treatment for an addict. Those who are covered by Kaiser Permanente should speak to their insurance provider and ask what will be covered. Every type of drug treatment within outpatient or inpatient drug rehab centers will be covered, and this is why it is important to ask the insurance provider and even the drug rehab center what may be covered by health insurance. Substance abuse and addiction are different for every person, and some addicts may require very specialized forms of help to treat their addiction. This can be costly and will require an addict to search out the proper treatment services they will need, and health insurance can help offset some of the costs.
Ask a Professional
What is private health insurance?
Private health insurance is a form of insurance where the client pays a private entity for their choice of offered health plans. The plan’s cost is known as the premium, which can usually be paid monthly, bi-annually, or annually. These plans are among the most expensive options for healthcare coverage, but they generally offer superior benefits and provider networks than subsidized or free health insurance options. Some private health insurance plans allow clients to seek treatment wherever they choose, without being restricted to a particular region or network.
Does private health insurance pay for substance abuse treatment?
Private health insurance usually gives someone the best chance of getting complete coverage for quality treatment. However, it’s important to remember that private health insurance companies aren’t required to cover services they don’t deem necessary. You will not know the exact amount of coverage until an evaluation is done and the treatment center submits a claim. Make sure you talk to the intake counselor and fully understand how they handle insurance coverage. Doing so can ensure you do not have any unexpected expenses and that treatment will not get cut short.
How do I get private health insurance?
Private health insurance is available directly from the companies that provide it. Or a person may be eligible to join a “group” policy through their employment. Group policies are purchased by employers at special rates and may be offered to eligible employees for less than the same policy would cost an individual.
What if I don't have private health insurance?
Someone without private health insurance or cash payment may be eligible for Medicaid coverage. Or, they might find a free or low-cost treatment program with bed availability. Some programs provide sliding scale payment systems or allow patients to make payment arrangements. There’s almost always a way to find help if someone wants to recover from addiction.
Want to know more?
The questions from Addicted.org’s “Learn from our Experts” are answered by Michael Leach, CCMA. If you need further clarification on any of the questions above or have any other questions you can contact him directly at mike@addicted.org.
