BCBS of Alabama Insurance Coverage for Rehab Centers

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Alabama & Drug Rehab Coverage

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama is aware of the growing rate of drug and alcohol addiction.¹ That is why BCBS clients are covered when they reach out for substance addiction treatment. There are plans from the platinum to the bronze level that carry unique co-pay and premium amounts. But how are you supposed to know which plan covers what kind of substance use treatment, and for how long?

BCBS of Alabama rehabilitation centers can check your insurance card to find out the details of what your specific plan covers. Just call the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama phone number or visit their website.

What Is BCBS of Alabama?

BCBS of AL began in 1936.⁴ Since then, BCBS has done its utmost to provide clients with high-quality, affordable health care coverage.⁴ They now rank as the biggest healthcare benefits provider in the state. Each year, they pay billions of dollars in benefits to cover over 2.8 million people.⁴

Being one of the highest-ranking states in the nation for substance use disorders, Alabama is home to 73 certified substance abuse treatment service providers.³ Some of them are free-standing agencies while others are mental health care centers. Of these agencies, 66 are funded through the Alabama Department of Mental Health to provide substance abuse treatment services to Alabama residents.³ 

How Much Does BCBS of Alabama Cover (Addiction Treatment)?

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama drug treatment coverage can include paying for some or all of the cost of inpatient/residential rehab, outpatient rehab/therapy, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and partial hospitalization programs (PHP).

Inpatient/residential rehab can require a lengthy stay, but with BCBS of Alabama, you will get some coverage. The Bronze Saver Plan covers inpatient and outpatient substance use disorder treatment once you have met the deductible of about $7,750 Individual (or $15,500 Family).⁵

If you have the Blue HAS Bronze plan, the individual deductible is $7,000 (while the Family is $14,000).⁶

Silver plans offer different rates for inpatient and outpatient programs. Blue Value Silver has a deductible of $3,000 Individual ($6,000 Family) with a mental health specialist copay of $70 (or $60 when you are referred by a designated Primary Care Select Physician).⁷ With Blue Saver Silver, 75% of the services you receive will be covered after you meet the 25% annual deductible.⁸

BCBS’s Gold Plans can also come through for you. The Blue Value Gold plan fully covers inpatient addiction treatment after the copay, and there is a $45 copay if you receive outpatient services.⁹

Meanwhile, the Blue Choice Platinum plan for businesses can help cover costs too. Outpatient services have a $30 copay per visit with no overall deductible while inpatient services carry no charge and have no overall deductible.¹⁰

Types of Addiction Treatment That Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama May Cover

Coverage for detox, rehab, and other types of addiction treatment will vary depending on your specific Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi insurance plan. Still, your insurance plan should provide at least some coverage for substance use, including alcohol, marijuana, or opioids.

BCBS of Mississippi may cover several types of addiction treatment, including:

• Medical detox: Medical detox can help you avoid significant side effects as your body rids the drugs in your system. Professionals can help you comfortably and safely manage your withdrawal symptoms and prepare for ongoing addiction treatment such as inpatient or outpatient rehab.
• Inpatient treatment programs: Inpatient programs allow you to live at the facility 24/7 for several weeks or months. You’ll process emotions, learn new habits, and practice living life without substances. This can be a good option if you want around-the-clock care.
• Outpatient programs: If you need to attend to family, school, or work during treatment, you may benefit from an outpatient program. You can live at home and attend treatment several hours per week. Many times outpatient programs follow inpatient treatment as a step-down.
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOP): For those who can live at home but need more intensive care than a traditional outpatient program, there are intensive outpatient programs. An IOP allows you to stay at home overnight while having several hours of treatment throughout the week.
• Partial hospitalization programs (PHP): Partial hospitalization programs are a good option for those who need full-time care but can return home at night. You’ll attend treatment up to at least five days a week for several hours each day.
• Aftercare: Aftercare helps ensure that the changes you made in treatment last over the long term. This part of your program will give you the support you need to maintain your new habits and substance-free lifestyle.

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Provides Coverage for Mental Health Facilities?

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama can provide coverage for mental health facilities, including if you need to get help for co-occurring disorders. There are many people with substance use disorders who also experience symptoms of mental illness, hence the term “co-occurring disorders.”¹¹ Someone with a mental health condition is more likely to have a substance use disorder.¹¹

Being treated in tandem is crucial for addressing underlying issues. Treatment takes on various forms, and integrated behavioral treatments are known for their success. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) reduce unhealthy behaviors, enhance coping skills, and can be used in conjunction with medications.¹² Clinicians and organizations can also work as part of the treatment team to handle health, housing, and employment issues.

Per the Affordable Care Act, insurance providers must provide mental health care and treatment coverage.¹³ This means that both stand-alone heroin rehab and co-occurring disorders are covered.

How Long Does BCBS of Alabama Insurance Cover Alcohol and Drug Rehab Programs?

Long-term treatment might be something you need if you have a chronic substance use disorder. Treatments can last 30, 60, or 90 days. Some people might even need to stay longer.

Some benefit the most from a 30-day program, as it gives time to work through withdrawal symptoms and build relapse prevention strategies.¹⁴ A 60-day program gives you double the time to work through withdrawals, receive medication-assisted treatment (MAT), go through various types of therapy (individual, family, and group), and do your after-care planning.¹⁴ A 90-day rehab program is even more intensive. By the end, you might have already transitioned to outpatient therapy if you were in an inpatient program or could have done outpatient the entire time.¹⁵

Given that there are so many coverage tiers and types of policies, the length of a stay in one of the treatment centers of Alabama covered by your insurance provider could depend on your specific plan.

What if My BCBS of Alabama Policy Does Not Cover an Inpatient Drug Rehab Program?

Only some of your inpatient drug rehab stay might be covered by your insurance provider. That is why it is crucial to check. If money is going to be an issue for you, there are a few free rehab centers in Alabama. They can provide partial hospitalization and outpatient programs, MAT, inpatient treatment, therapy (individual, family, and group), and continuing or aftercare. If you have Medicaid through BCBS, there are rehab centers in the state that accept it, meaning you will not have to pay.¹⁶

Some rehabs in Alabama offer financing or scholarship options. Combined with private insurance plans or Medicaid or Medicare, scholarships can shave a lot of the cost down. However, they are conditional and are awarded on a case-by-case basis.¹⁷ You will have to ask each private rehab about its scholarships and their restrictions.

SAMHSA offers the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG) program, which has funding for all states. This program considers IV drug users, those at high risk for substance abuse, mothers or expectant mothers, and those needing recovery.¹⁸ There are also partial scholarships (which offer funding to cover a certain portion of the cost) and full scholarships.

Getting help now is imperative for getting better. There is a BCBS of Alabama substance abuse treatment facility that can help you if you reach out. Putting it off will likely lead to problems becoming worse. Trying to quit on your own can produce dangerous withdrawal effects, and you miss out on learning relapse prevention strategies as a part of cognitive-based therapies offered in many rehabs.¹⁹

BCBS of Alabama In-Network vs. Out-of-Network Inpatient Drug Rehab Centers

Finally, it is important to address in- and out-of-network inpatient rehab centers. What exactly is the difference, and how does that impact your stay in rehab? When you go to a rehab that takes your plan, they’re in-network. On the contrary, one that does not accept your plan is out-of-network.

With BCBS of Alabama, in-network inpatient facilities can cover up to 30 days per person each plan year.²⁰ The full amount covered is subject to specific copays for certain days. Inpatient Substance Abuse is limited to one admission per planned year with a maximum of two admittances per lifetime.²⁰ There is no rollover to Major Medical, and the Mental Health and Substance Abuse days are aggregate.²⁰

However, with an out-of-network inpatient facility, pre-certification is mandatory. 100% of the allowance is subject to a deductible of $200 per admission and a copay of $25 for days 2-5.²⁰ This only provides short-term coverage for crisis intervention.²⁰ Once deemed stable enough, clients get moved to PPO hospitals.²⁰

An in-network option is likely going to be your best bet for getting rehab treatment through Blue Cross Blue Shield. Again, be sure to check your coverage to make sure you can afford a long enough stay in inpatient, outpatient, or partial hospitalization. This is an important step in your recovery journey—why not take it now?

What Rehab Centers Take Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Insurance?

There are various treatment programs for individuals struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, so don’t give up if the first program you check out doesn’t meet your individual needs. There are local rehab near you that can provide the treatment you need. You can search by location and filter by Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance.