If you or a loved one is battling drug or alcohol addiction and you need rehab services, you’re probably looking for detox centers that take medicaid. Basically, help is available for most US citizens that are struggling with substance abuse regardless of their financial status. However, finding a detox program that accepts Medicaid or Medicare can be tricky in some states.
Nevertheless, quality rehabilitation is still available since in some cases Medicaid helps in paying for inpatient treatment centers, detox and addiction medications. Medicaid can also cover ongoing treatment for behavioral health issues.
Medicaid & Medicare Explained
Medicaid is a state and federal funded health insurance plan that is generally for low-income families. This plan provides low-cost or free alcohol and drug addiction treatment. It can cover all costs of addiction treatment or part of the costs. In every state, Medicaid has different treatment coverage and eligibility rules. Eligibility rules can also change every year. This implies that if a rehab center turns you down when you try to pay for addiction treatment with Medicaid this year, it might accept your Medicaid payment next year. Medicare is a federal program that provides health coverage no matter what your income is. It is for those who have a severe disability or are 65 years and older.
What Does Medicaid Cover For Detox?
In most states, Medicaid recipients are not required to have co-payments when using this program to pay for addiction treatment. In states where co-payments are charged, there is a specific out-of-pocket amount that is set for Medicaid recipients.
Here are the detox services that are covered in part or fully by Medicaid:
- Drug Screenings
- Detox Intervention
- Outpatient visits
- Residential treatment
- Craving and maintenance medications
- Family counseling
- Inpatient rehab
- Mental health treatment
How Many Rehab Facilities Take Medicaid?
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than half of rehab centers accepted Medicaid from 2006 to 2011. Between 2006 and 2011, rehab centers that were accepting Medicaid did not drop below 50%. This clearly indicates that you can benefit from Medicaid when paying for addiction rehabilitation if you find a rehab center that accepts it near you. Ideally, Medicaid enables you to avoid paying a hefty cost for addiction treatment. It enables you to receive quality treatment without paying extra costs.
Why Apply For Medicaid?
Now that the question, “do rehab centers accept Medicaid?” has been answered, you most probably want to know why you should apply for this insurance program. Medicaid enables you to get treatment that you might not otherwise afford without it. And since the aim of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services is to increase behavioral healthcare services access by individuals with chronic and/or serious disorders, Medicaid allows you access to more services and treatment options throughout the addiction recovery journey.
Due to the low-income status of most people who need addiction treatment, they qualify for this program with ease. If you are experiencing financial hardship because of your low income yet you need treatment for drug addiction, search the nearest rehab programs that accept Medicaid can help you if you are eligible.
Medicaid & Medicare Eligibility
To be eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, an applicant must be at least one of the following:
- Age below 19 years
- Age above 65 years (Medicare)
- A parent
- Pregnant
- Within a specific income group
There are states where all adults whose income is below a certain amount are covered by Medicaid. Individuals who get Supplemental Security Income qualify for Medicaid automatically.
According to the Affordable Care Act, individuals whose income is not more than 133% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible for this insurance program. People who live above this poverty level can also be eligible for this insurance if they are in the right income category.
How Medicaid Can Help With Drug And Alcohol Detox
The Affordable Care Act changed how Medicaid covers treatment for substance and drug abuse. For instance, before ACA, Medicaid did not cover adults without children in most states. However, this has changed in several states. Additionally, treatment services that Medicaid covers have been expanded because of the Affordable Care Act. Today, Medicaid covers even more healthcare services including customized care for individuals with mental health disorders and co-occurring substance abuse. Also because of ACA, the use of Medicaid to cover behavioral health services like drug treatment is changing and in fact, it is still work under progress. Basically, every state is doing this at its own pace and you can find these improvements and changes already in place in some states. Medicaid can also provide coverage for aftercare services in some states. This includes mental healthcare services, education and counseling in participating programs and facilities.
Still asking do rehab centers accept Medicaid? Simply call the local government office to find out more about Medicaid and whether you are eligible for this health insurance program. Application for Medicaid can be done at any time throughout the year.