August 5, 2022
High Paid Professionals and Drug Abuse: A Guide to Rehab Insurance Coverage
High-paid professionals—such as bankers, lawyers, and management consultants—often struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.
Drug abuse is rising in the United States. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 13% of Americans reported an increase in substance abuse. Unfortunately, drug addiction harms people from all backgrounds and cultures. High-paid professionals—such as bankers, lawyers, and management consultants—often struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.
However, here’s the good thing: people in high-paid professions often have excellent healthcare coverage. If they don’t have insurance coverage, they can still purchase a great policy to cover rehab costs (even if it’s a pre-existing condition.)
In this article, we will answer some of the most common questions surrounding insurance coverage for drug and alcohol abuse rehab:
Which Professions Have the Highest Rates of Drug and Alcohol Abuse?
It’s essential to know that you’re not alone, even if drug and alcohol addiction is a lonely place. Various professions have high addiction rates, such as:
- Hospitality: 19.1% reported using drugs, and 16.9% had a substance use disorder diagnosis.
- Arts and entertainment: 12.8% reported a substance use disorder.
- Management: 11.4% of CEOs and senior managers have a medical diagnosis for substance use disorders.
- IT and communications: Almost one in five tech professionals have an addiction to painkillers.
- Construction: Around 17% of construction workers are heavy drinkers.
- Lawyers - Some reports suggest one in five lawyers drink heavily.
Can I Use Insurance To Cover Drug and Alcohol Rehab Expenses?
Depending on your insurance provider, you can use your alcohol rehab insurance coverage to cover your drug and alcohol treatment costs. The United States Affordable Care Act—which the U.S. government passed in 2010—required all insurance policies to cover ten health benefit categories.
Mental health services and substance abuse disorder are in those categories. So there’s an excellent chance your insurance provider will cover all or some of your drug and alcohol recovery costs. Every insurance provider has different coverage levels; this makes it confusing for patients. Chat with your local rehab center to find out the best insurance coverage.
The Best Insurance Providers for High-Paid Professionals
The best insurance policies offer extensive coverage for substance abuse treatment—regardless of the treatment duration. At Safe Haven Recovery, we accept most insurance policies, including:
- Optium
- Aetna
- UMR
- Cigma
- GEHA
- BCBG
- Becon
- PPO insurance policies
These policies can offer excellent coverage for your rehab costs.
How Do I Find Insurance Plans That Cover Drug and Alcohol Rehab?
Speak to as many insurance providers as possible and gauge what they cover. Private insurance policies offer the most extensive coverage for drug and alcohol treatment costs despite being more expensive.
Still, speaking with your local rehab center can lead you in the right direction. The best rehab centers work with the best insurance providers.
Do PPO Policies (Preferred Provider Organization) Cover Drug and Alcohol Recovery Costs?
If you want to avoid getting a referral from a doctor—which may be a costly experience—you could use a PPO policy. At Safe Haven Recovery, we accept PPO insurance policies for rehab treatment. The primary benefit of a PPO plan is the range of rehab centers in their network that doesn’t require a doctor's referral. Other benefits include more flexibility and more control over your choices.
However, PPO insurance policies may have higher deductibles than patients with HMO plans, lower copays, and higher monthly premiums.
How Do I Use Insurance To Pay for Treatment?
If you already have an excellent insurance policy through your employer, you’re a step ahead of many patients. Still—depending on the policy—there are still steps you should take before getting treatment:
- Chat with a doctor - Most insurance providers will require a doctor's referral to cover the costs of drug and alcohol treatment. You won’t need a referral if you have a PPO insurance policy. However, your rehab center may have a more robust understanding of your drug and alcohol addiction if they have a medical report from your doctor.
- Find the best rehab center for you - Now it’s time to find a rehab center for your treatment. You can use the find treatment near you tool. However, Safe Haven Recovery is an excellent place for alcohol treatment in California.
- Check whether the rehab center accepts your insurance - Most rehab centers have specialists to help you with your insurance policy. They can also assist you with additional out-of-pocket costs.
Am I Going To Be Out-of-Pocket Despite Having Insurance?
Many high-paid professionals already have excellent insurance policies that cover rehab costs. However, there may be some additional costs:
- Deductibles - These costs are the amount any policyholder must pay before the policy starts.
- Lifetime limitations - Some insurance policies only cover your treatment costs up to a specific point, but you should determine how prolonged your insurance coverage is.
- Premiums - The entire cost of your insurance policy.
- Copays or coinsurance payments - These are a fee you pay to the doctor to get a referral.
You shouldn’t be out-of-pocket if you have an excellent insurance provider. However, the best private insurance policies may charge higher premiums and deductibles.
Can I Have Drug and Alcohol Treatment Without Insurance?
You can. However, it depends on the rehab center. Many rehab centers don’t accept HMO, EPO, Medicare, and Medicaid.
That doesn’t need to be a problem; your local rehab center can work with you to find the best insurance coverage and navigate additional costs.
What if My Drug and Alcohol Addiction Is a Pre-Existing Condition?
Don’t worry if your drug and alcohol addiction is pre-existing. For millions of Americans, their addiction is a long-term battle.
Previously, insurance policies could refuse coverage if they deemed drug and alcohol addiction a pre-existing condition. Thankfully, this changed in 2014 with the Affordable Care Act; it prevents companies from rejecting coverage for pre-existing conditions, such as drug and alcohol addiction.
Start Your Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Addiction Today
High-paid professionals have the luxury of affording the best insurance coverage for rehab costs. These policies can cover most, if not all, of your expenses. Although we don’t accept Medicare and Medicaid, HM, or EPO at Safe Haven Recovery—we work with most alcohol treatment insurance providers.
We have a team of staff ready to assist you with alcohol rehab insurance coverage questions. We even have an insurance verification tool to help you.
We can’t wait to help you on your journey to a sober life!
