How much BCBS of Pennsylvania will cover in terms of addiction treatment will vary greatly upon the plan that you’ve selected. The treatment facility you attend may also impact the levels of coverage you receive. It’s also important to note that the treatment you receive will vary depending on your personal situation—no two paths to recovery are the same.
Despite this, the following are common treatment methods for addiction:3
- Inpatient and/or residential treatment. This is perhaps the most well-known form of addiction treatment. This type of treatment often involves the patient staying at a facility short-term (e.g., a few days or weeks), which is known as inpatient care, or long-term (e.g., a few months), which is known as residential care. The type of care received here generally includes detox and/or withdrawal support, therapy, medication, and other treatments as well.3
- Standard outpatient treatment. This care often involves a patient going to a facility to receive care (e.g., therapy) for an hour or a few hours and then returning home.3
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs). These combine elements on inpatient and outpatient care, where the patient goes to a facility for a few hours of treatment a few days a week. However, they’re allowed to return home at the end of the day.
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOP). These also combine elements of inpatient and outpatient care. IOPs typically involve a patient receiving outpatient services at a facility a few days a week, but then they return home. Unlike typical outpatient programs, IOPs have more structure.
Please remember that your provider will ultimately determine the best course of action for you on your recovery journey. To find out what your insurance plan will cover, call the number on the back of your insurance card to speak with a BCBS of Pennsylvania representative.
Does Blue Cross Blue Shield of Pennsylvania Provide Coverage for Mental Health Facilities?
Although every health plan is different, they are all mandated by the Affordable Care Act, a federal health-care reform law intended to provide some level of care for a variety of health-care services referred to as essential health benefits.4 Mental and behavioral health services include inpatient care for behavioral and mental health disorders, behavioral health treatment, and treatment for substance use disorders.4
This mandate ensures that whether you need standalone heroin rehab or drug rehab, or if you need treatment for both a mental or behavioral health disorder and drug or alcohol rehab treatment. If you are struggling with both substance use and a mental health condition, you may have a co-occurring disorder, and you may not be able to fully recover until you receive treatment for both conditions. That’s why the ACA’s coverage mandate is so beneficial: Your insurance plan should cover treatment for each condition in some capacity, enabling you to get the care you need.