When it comes to long-term care for the treatment of a substance use disorder, there are a few different types that you can choose from. Each type has its own unique benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to understand what each one entails before making a decision. In this article, we will discuss what are the different types of long-term care for addiction insurance and help you decide which one is right for you.
What is long-term care?
Long-term care is a type of care that is usually provided for persons with a long-term sickness or disability. It encompasses several areas of care – medical treatment, psychosocial and mental health care, and personal care.
Many treatment centers that focus on long-term care assistance provide help with daily activities. This can include everything from eating, bathing, and recreational or leisure activities. In addiction treatment, long-term care is defined as treatment that lasts up to 120 days.
Who qualifies for long-term care?
Healthcare providers usually offer long-term care to the elderly and disabled. These groups need special care due to chronic illnesses, disabilities, or old age. In the context of addiction, healthcare providers offer long-term care to persons in need of long-term rehab due to severe substance abuse issues.
How is long-term care paid for?
Long-term treatment programs accept health insurance. Long-term care health insurance often covers up to $250 per day, depending on the treatment programs being provided. When selecting an insurance company for your health insurance policy, it is important to consider which treatment centers will accept the policy and what treatment programs it covers.
Types of Long-Term Care Insurance
There are two main types of long-term care insurance. Each insurance can cover several treatment options and is usually accepted in long-term rehab centers and care facilities.
Traditional Insurance
This type of insurance covers the elderly who have trouble with their mobility and maintaining their personal hygiene. People suffering from mental health problems and cognitive impairments such as Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease are also covered by traditional insurance.
Traditional insurance includes a monthly benefit (how much you’ll receive) and a benefit period (for how long). The details of the insurance coverage should be found in your insurance policy.
Hybrid Insurance
Hybrid insurance includes life insurance as well as long-term care insurance. With this type of insurance, you need to pay a fixed premium to receive a fixed benefit. Some insurance companies also allow you to withdraw some or all of the premium amount you have paid in case of emergencies.
Hybrid insurance answers the question, “What type of addiction insurance incorporates flexible premiums?” With hybrid insurance, you can choose when to pay your premiums – lump sum, five years, 10 years, 20 years, and so on. This allows for more financial flexibility.
Exclusions to Long-term Health Insurance
Insurance providers often include limitations in their health insurance policies. While some health insurance plans can cover comprehensive treatment programs, other plans do not cover long-term substance abuse treatment and mental health illnesses.
Luckily, insurance providers are now required by law to provide substance abuse treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. Substance abuse treatment is now being recognized as one of the essential health benefits that people are entitled to. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has been advocating for this change and is working with insurance providers to make sure that people get the treatment they need.
Insurance providers are thus mandated to cover addiction treatment, drug and alcohol rehab, and mental health services for all people seeking addiction treatment. As many people continue to suffer from the effects of drug use, addiction treatment services are an important component of many health insurance policies nowadays.
What are long-term addiction treatment programs?
Long-term addiction treatment programs are designed for people with severe drug or alcohol addiction problems. Aside from providing drug and alcohol rehab, long-term substance abuse treatment usually includes detoxification, mental health treatment, and drug replacement therapy.
Behavioral therapies are also included in a treatment program and can be provided by a treatment center. These therapies help patients to change their behavior and thought patterns regarding drug abuse.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, long-term addiction treatment is the most effective way to curb addiction. A person who is presented with several treatment options over a longer period of time has a better chance of recovery than a person who goes for one-time outpatient treatment.
Furthermore, the National Institute on Drug Abuse emphasizes the need to find the appropriate treatment that is tailored for each individual. A rehab center may offer several addiction treatment options, but administering the wrong treatment may lead to adverse consequences.
Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also shows that a combination of several treatments is the most effective way to undergo the recovery process. Healthcare providers must offer a combination of long-term rehab, outpatient programs, group therapy, multidimensional family therapy, and detoxification.
When talking about substance abuse treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, rehab centers must provide 24/7 care to all patients. In most cases, this care is provided through long-term residential treatment. Patients seeking addiction treatment will select a rehab center that can provide the necessary care for at least 30 days. But the usual duration of a long-term residential treatment program can reach up to six months.
Addiction recovery programs for patients with severe drug addiction are usually intensive. Patients enter the rehab facility of their choice, undergo intense drug addiction treatment, and prepare themselves to reintegrate into society.
What is long-term rehab?
Long-term rehab in American Addiction Centers involves receiving health care services through inpatient treatment. American Addiction Centers accept insurance, so most patients who have a health plan with an insurance provider will receive some form of drug addiction coverage.
Long-term inpatient treatment has been found to contribute positively to a person’s physical and mental health. In most inpatient rehab centers, patients are treated by licensed medical professionals.
Treatment usually begins with detoxification. In severe cases, patients may need to undergo medication-assisted detox. After which, the patient undergoes intensive drug rehab programs. American Addiction Centers usually have behavioral treatment facilities as well for counseling.
Once the inpatient residential treatment is completed, the patient can then be referred to outpatient programs for continuous treatment. The goal of long-term rehab is to help the patient stop the addiction and lead a healthy life.
What is a therapeutic community?
A therapeutic community is a type of long-term residential treatment that is specifically designed for people with substance abuse problems. In a therapeutic community, patients live in a drug-free environment and receive around-the-clock care.
Therapeutic communities were found to be effective for persons with substance use disorders. These communities focus on providing holistic support to a person. Having enough support will also motivate the patient to complete the whole treatment plan in the rehab center.
What is the process of long-term treatment?
The process of a long-term treatment plan can be listed as follows:
- Detoxification
- Intensive counseling and therapy sessions
- Regular assessment
- Discharge
- Aftercare plan
During long-term treatment, a qualified healthcare provider will begin with detoxification to manage acute withdrawal symptoms. Then, the patient begins a strict program with scheduled activities including intensive counseling and therapy sessions. Once the patient gets into a routine, family visitations are allowed to provide the support needed by the patient.
After the long-term treatment, the readiness of the patient is assessed to determine when and if after-care should be conducted. The aftercare plan usually includes regular check-ups, counseling sessions, and continuous therapy. It is important for the patient to follow their aftercare plan to prevent relapse.
Common Misconceptions about Long-Term Treatment Programs
There are many misconceptions when it comes to long-term care in an addiction treatment center. First, some people think that long-term treatment is only for severe cases of substance abuse. Second, others believe that patients who stay in a rehab center for a long time are not doing well in their recovery.
Both of these ideas are wrong. Long-term care is for anyone who wants to stop their addiction and stay sober. The length of time a patient stays in treatment should be based on their individual needs and not on any preconceived notions.
What is a long-term addiction treatment facility?
What does long-term care in an addiction treatment facility look like? As mentioned, drug treatment usually involves detox, rehab, and after-care treatment. Since you are expecting a long period of time to complete these stages, the treatment facility must be conducive and well-equipped for the comfort of the patient and for the effectiveness of the treatment.
Regardless of the type of treatment your rehabilitation team recommends, there are a few key features that should be included in any long-term care program. These features include:
- A safe and comfortable living environment
- Qualified and licensed medical staff
- Evidence-based treatment methods
- Individualized treatment plans
- Access to support groups
- An environment where you don’t feel like you’re in “rehab”
- A program that is accredited by a reputable organization
Luxurious programs should also offer amenities that make the stay more comfortable, such as:
- Gourmet meals
- Spa treatments
- Fitness and wellness programs
- Private rooms
While these amenities are not necessary for a successful long-term recovery, they can certainly make the experience more enjoyable. If you’re considering a luxurious long-term care program, be sure to ask about all of the features and amenities that are included.
What are the different types of long-term care for addiction insurance?
As mentioned, insurance coverage for drug addiction is now being mandated. An insurance provider is required to provide several treatment options for persons seeking addiction treatment in American Addiction Centers.
To answer the question on the different types of long-term care for addiction insurance, the type of care will depend on the insurance coverage. Both private and public insurance providers can cover several treatment options for drug abuse. Government-funded insurance plans provide basic treatment options under American Addiction Centers for persons suffering from substance use disorder.
Private health insurance is also a good option for people who have the means to pay their insurance provider out-of-pocket. Most private companies also offer insurance as an added benefit for their employees. Another good thing about this type of insurance is that it offers a private and convenient solution to long-term rehab. When high-quality services are being offered by private American Addiction Centers, it is easier for people to decide and commit to a drug and alcohol rehab program.
What types of rehabilitation programs accept health insurance?
Many rehab facilities accept coverage, whether private or public. Treatments will cover specific plans for the patients. It is also possible to seek health care through state-supported programs for individuals with low income. While insurance covers most applications – including health detoxification – some limitations may apply, especially for public insurance plans. Certain plans, cannot include programs for specific categories, including those that are not medical.
FAQ: Insurance Coverage
What does your insurance cover? Several insurance programs offer different kinds of coverage, from specific physicians or hospitals to specific drugs. Since insurance is highly competitive, patient coverage is available through many different providers.
How do I know what treatment programs my insurance will cover?
Usually, a leading substance abuse rehabilitation treatment provider also maintains a website. You can check their page to know more about their facilities, treatment methods, and what type of addiction insurance they accept. You can also check online reviews to get an idea of the quality of care that a certain facility provides.
Although private insurance covers addiction treatment services as mandated by the government, the extent to which they will cover the cost of treatment still varies. Most insurance companies would require that a person must have a pre-existing condition before they can be eligible for coverage.
To know if your insurance company will cover the cost of treatment, it is important to know what type of addiction insurance your company provides because this will determine the kind of treatment you can receive. You can ask them directly for assistance in narrowing down your options based on your desired location and type of treatment provider.
How much of the drug abuse treatment will insurance cover?
The insurance restrictions are determined by the insurance policy that an individual has. The plans contain a few limitations. For instance, insurance companies will pay for detox and medications needed as the majority of the people affected by substance abuse require medication in rehabilitation. However, these companies may not cover behavioral therapies.
The good news is that there are now many insurance companies that offer flexible premiums and a wide range of coverage. You can choose the one that best suits your needs.
What if my insurance provider will not fully cover all the treatment services that I want to have?
If you are not satisfied with the kind of coverage your insurance provider offers, you can always ask for help from your state’s Department of Insurance. The Department of Insurance can provide you with a list of private providers who offer addiction insurance.
If you do not want to change your insurance provider, you can always avail the things included in your policy, then look for other sources of funding for the services that are outside your insurance coverage. Discuss this and make an arrangement with the mental health service administration of your target treatment provider. Various American Addiction Centers will agree to such.
In looking for other ways to pay for your treatment, some treatment centers offer sliding scale fees based on your ability to pay. There are also many charitable organizations that can help you with the cost of treatment. You can ask your drug rehab center if they know of any organizations that can help you with the cost of treatment.
Conclusion
What are the different types of long-term care for addiction insurance? There are two main types of insurance – traditional and hybrid. Both insurance types can provide the appropriate coverage for drug and alcohol treatment.
Choosing the right insurance company for you is essential to help you get on the road to recovery. Most insurance companies cover rehabilitation, mental health and medical treatments, co-occurring disorders, and detoxification.
In line with this, most treatment facilities and American Addiction Centers accept insurance. Most Americans today are covered by government-sponsored insurance programs. But, if you prefer a private and convenient solution, you can select a private insurance policy instead that can cover the fees of your desired treatment provider.
The important thing is to seek help for your addiction. There are several resources available to assist in your recovery process. You can contact an American Addiction Centers location near you, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or the SAMHSA for more information.
