Does Your Florida Blue Policy Cover Rehab?
Enrolling in addiction treatment is one of the best things you can do to achieve long-term sobriety and live a fuller life. However, financing addiction treatment can be costly, and figuring out how to pay for it can be a stressful endeavor. The first question most potential patients ask us at Coastal Detox is whether their insurance will cover the cost of treatment.
Florida Blue, also known as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, provides insurance coverage for millions of people, and we take it at Coastal Detox. Here is everything you need to know about Florida Blue addiction treatment coverage at our rehab facility.
About Florida Blue
Founded more than 75 years ago, Florida Blue is a subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield, which owns 36 health insurance companies. Florida Blue was founded to help people and communities get healthier.
As one of the most widely used and contracted insurance companies in the U.S., Florida Blue/Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage has more than 106 million members around the country. It’s also contracted with 95 percent of doctors and 96 percent of hospitals.
Plans Offered by Florida Blue
Florida Blue offers healthcare plans on a tiered system:
- Platinum: The Platinum plan has the highest monthly payment and the lowest deductible. It covers about 90% of medical costs.
- Gold: The Gold plan has a higher monthly payment and a low deductible. It covers about 80% of medical costs.
- Silver: The Silver plan has a slightly higher monthly payment and a lower deductible. It covers 70% of medical costs.
- Bronze: The Bronze plan has the cheapest monthly payment and the highest deductible. It covers 60% of medical costs.
Coverage also depends on what area you live in. Check your state’s insurance to see how much you’ll have to pay for drug or alcohol addiction treatment.
Coastal Detox is also happy to perform a benefits check to see if we take your specific insurance plan. Once we figure out the exact components of your Florida Blue plan, we can help you register for the treatments and services that we cover at our rehab facility.
Does My Plan Need to be In-Network?
Your Florida Blue doesn’t necessarily need to be in-network for us to take it. Florida Blue typically offers two categories of healthcare plans: Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and Prepared Provider Organization (PPO). Patients with HMOs are only covered at HMO-contracted facilities, while patients with PPOs can see a broader range of healthcare providers. PPO patients can also see doctors outside of their network at a higher rate.
Coastal Detox takes both HMO and PPO plans. If you have an HMO plan, you’ll want to make sure that we take it, otherwise you’ll have to pay out of pocket. With PPO plans, you have a little more flexibility with payment.
What If I Can’t Afford Florida Blue?
If you can’t afford Florida Blue or other health insurance, Coastal Detox does accept self-pay. We can work out a payment plan with you so that you can afford the addiction treatment you need.
Mental Health Conditions Covered by Florida Blue
Common mental health conditions addressed at addiction treatment facilities include:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- ADHD
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Eating disorders
The Importance of Treating Co-Occurring Disorders
Many people who abuse alcohol or drugs also suffer from co-occurring mental disorders like bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or depression. People who have mental illnesses tend to self-medicate with substances to numb and mask their pain. Licensed medical staff at rehab facilities must take it upon themselves to diagnose mental health conditions and addictions at the same time. This way, physicians can determine the root cause of abuse or poor mental health.
Coastal Detox and Florida Blue understand the importance of treating co-occurring disorders simultaneously. You can contact our facility to learn more about this process.
Drug and Alcohol Rehab Treatments Covered by Florida Blue
Florida Blue is required to cover essential services, which include drug and alcohol addiction treatment. However, each Florida Blue insurance plan is different. Some might provide full coverage for addiction treatment while others might only cover half of it. Florida Blue drug and alcohol treatment coverage depends on which plan you have, so contact your local Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance provider or consult your insurance manual to determine which specific treatments your plan covers.
Whether partially or fully, Florida Blue is prepared to cover addictions to the following substances:
- Alcohol
- Prescriptions pills (i.e. stimulants, opioids, benzodiazepines)
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Hallucinogens
- Inhalants
- Marijuana
- Methamphetamine
The following addiction treatment programs are also covered to some degree by Florida Blue:
- Detox
- Inpatient treatment
- Partial hospitalization programs
- Outpatient treatment
- Behavioral therapy
- Counseling
What is Detox?
During medical detox, a patient abstains from drugs and alcohol under the supervision of licensed clinicians for a smooth and comfortable process. While this is happening, the patient may experience painful withdrawal symptoms depending on the severity of the addiction. These usually go away with time, but clinicians might also provide medication that reduces these symptoms and also help patients wean off their substance of choice.
Medical detox can be broken down into three stages:
Evaluation
Before detox actually begins, medical professionals will perform an evaluation to learn about the patient’s history with addiction. They’ll take notes on your state of mental health, perform a test on the number of drugs or alcohol in your system (usually through urine or blood samples), and ask you about any other medical issues you have. Once this is done, they’ll create a detox plan that will best fit your needs.
Stabilization
When a plan is put in place, the detox will begin. The length of detox depends on the addiction. It can take as little as eight days or as long as a few weeks. The main goal of detox is stabilizing the body and removing the physical dependency on drugs or alcohol.
Preparation
Once the body is cleansed of said substance, you’re not completely out of the woods. Your mind is still trained to crave alcohol or drugs, and you easily relapse without additional treatment. Therapy is strongly encouraged after detox is complete.
It’s dangerous to detox from drugs or alcohol at home since withdrawal symptoms can be unpredictable. In severe cases, addicts might not be able to handle painful symptoms and can go into shock. We highly recommend that you come to Coastal Detox to ensure a safe and comfortable recovery from substance abuse.
What is Inpatient Treatment?
Inpatient treatment is the most intensive kind of addiction treatment. Inpatient rehab programs involve staying full-time at an addiction treatment facility with 24-hour medical and emotional supervision. Individuals in inpatient treatment are required to attend therapy sessions every day.
Inpatient treatment is beneficial for addicts who must fully focus on their sobriety and recovery, and it can last up to six months. Addiction counselors and psychologists continuously meet with patients to discuss their mental and physical health. With this constant supervision, patients will have less of a risk for relapse.
What Are Partial Hospitalization Programs?
Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are a step below inpatient treatment. Patients in PHPs live at home but continue to attend treatment at a rehab center about five times a week. PHPs are a little more restrictive than outpatient, and they’re perfect for recovering addicts who don’t quite feel “stable” after treatment just yet.
What is Outpatient Treatment?
Outpatient treatment is the most flexible form of drug rehab. This form of treatment allows patients recovering from addiction to continue with their day-to-day responsibilities, such as work or school. Outpatient sessions typically happen for 10 to 12 hours a week. People with less severe addictions are good candidates for outpatient treatment. Outpatient rehab can last anywhere from a few months to a year, depending on the person and the illness.
What is Behavioral Therapy?
Behavioral therapy is a crucial component of inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment. Therapy will help you understand how your brain depends on drugs and alcohol for happiness and comfort, and you’ll see how these substances only mask what you’re feeling inside. Drugs only temporarily make you feel better.
Here are some examples of behavioral therapy covered by Florida Blue:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Unlike traditional psychotherapy in which counselors try to figure out why you feel a certain way, CBT centers on thoughts, feelings and behaviors that cause you to do negative things. The goal of CBT is to replace these thoughts and behaviors with positive ones that will help you lead a better life.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Dialectical behavior therapy is a form of CBT that focuses on thoughts, feelings and emotions in the moment. DBT has helped people recover from borderline personality disorder, and it also helps recovering addicts control their emotions and have better relationships.
Will Florida Blue Cover My Entire Rehab Stay?
The Affordable Care Act states that group and individual insurance policies must provide a degree of coverage for 10 essential health services. Two of these are mental health and substance use disorders. Consult your insurance manual or call Florida Blue to see how much of a rehab stay will be covered.
Get Addiction Treatment at Coastal Detox Today
No matter what insurance you have, Coastal Detox will work with you and your family to determine the best payment system for your addiction treatment. Contact one of our representatives so that we can discuss your Florida Blue plan and see which of our covered treatments we can offer you. There is still hope for you to achieve full sobriety and successful recovery.