Does BCBS of Illinois Cover Opioid Rehab?
BCBS stands for Blue Cross Blue Shield and a large number of facilities in Illinois are part of the BCBS network, with behavioral health care management integrated with the provider’s medical care management program.1
Individuals with BCBS of Illinois insurance coverage and in need of opioid rehab typically look for in-network alcohol and drug addiction programs, which may be located in Illinois or nationwide.1
BCBS of Illinois providers offer coverage for opioid rehab, among other things, but the extent of coverage varies depending on service scope and individual health insurance plan.1
Entering readily available, easily accessible substance abuse treatment is considered to be one of the key steps and principles of effective treatment. This is especially true in case of opioid addiction which carries a high risk of overdose with fatal or life-threatening consequences.2
However, the higher the level of intensity and the more comprehensive the scope of addiction treatment, the higher the treatment costs are likely to be. Treatment may last considerably longer if the person also suffers from a co-occurring mental health disorder.2 All these factors are taken into consideration when working out the initial treatment plan based on the initial assessment.2
What Does BCBS of Illinois Insurance Cover for Opioid Treatment?
Like all major insurance providers, BCBS of Illinois provides coverage for all essential opioid rehab services:3
- Screenings, interventions
- Detoxification and withdrawal management
- Inpatient
- Outpatient
- Behavioral therapies
- Treatment for co-occurring disorders
Many opioid rehab centers nationwide accept BCBS of Illinois, which is also one of the largest insurance providers across the U.S.1
What BCBS of Illinois Does Not Cover for Opioid Treatment?
Certain elements of care are not covered by insurance:3
- Alternative therapies
- Holistic care services
- Private treatment services
- Non-medical amenities
- Recreation programs
- Food delivery
How Much Does Opioid Rehab Cost?
The cost of any opioid rehab program depends on several contributing factors, including but not limited to:3
- Services offered
- Intensity of services
- Duration of treatment
- Amenities
Rehab hotlines offer comprehensive information about the scope and cost of rehab, as well as technical information about the admission and intake process and the protection of privacy and confidentiality of recovering individuals.
Cost of Inpatient Opioid Rehab
The average cost of 90-day inpatient opioid rehab is $200–$700 per day, and the price range of 30-day programs is $400–$900 per day. So ultimately, the longer the program, the lower the price per day.
Cost of Outpatient Opioid Rehab
The average cost of outpatient opioid rehab is considerably lower than the cost of inpatient rehab programs, mainly because they normally fall under the category of low-intensity programs.2
On the other hand, these programs are also less comprehensive and may therefore be less effective in terms of treatment retention, relapse prevention and treatment outcomes in general than their high-intensity counterparts.2
An important exception is the intensive outpatient program which matches the intensity of inpatient programs without the commitment of the inpatient stay.2
Cost of Opioid Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)
The average cost of opioid PHPs depends on the length of stay, that is, the number of days spent in the program. The cost of detox is roughly $600–$1,000 a day, and the minimum duration of stay is 7 days.
Cost of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is usually covered by insurance. The average cost of MAT depends on the therapy prescribed to the patient and the length of time the patient remains in therapy. For instance, a year’s worth of methadone maintenance therapy costs approximately $4,700.
Opioid Rehab vs. the Cost of Opioid Addiction
It can be difficult enough for a person to agree to seek help and enter treatment, so it is important for treatment to be readily available. Unlike opioid rehab which lasts a certain amount of time, opioid addiction is a vicious cycle which can easily spiral out of control and have a fatal outcome.1
Over time, the person no longer feels the powerful effect of opioids, but they are unable to resist cravings and urges to obtain and take these drugs. They are no longer able to function normally or derive pleasure from anything. Finding and taking drugs becomes a compulsive behavior that is their sole purpose in life, even in the face of grave risks and serious consequences.1
On the other hand, MAT can help recovering individuals stabilize safely and stay off opioids for a long time.4
Additionally, there are affordable treatment and flexible payment options, making this a much safer choice than having to bear the accumulated costs of substance abuse, lost income and deteriorating health with a possibility of fatal outcomes.3
What Length of Opioid Rehab Does BCBS of Illinois Cover?
Longer treatment times are typically considered the most effective. However, each patient’s individual needs are unique. Likewise, the length of time covered by BCBS of Illinois depends on the person’s specific plan, as there are many different types of policies and tiers of coverage. Individuals exploring their treatment options based on their insurance coverage can look up their own plan information on their insurance card.3
Choosing Between BCBS of Illinois Inpatient vs. Outpatient Opioid Rehab Centers
Treatment-seeking individuals often choose inpatient over outpatient opioid rehab because of the higher level of care intensity it provides, both during the detoxification and withdrawal process and the rehabilitation stage.2
Outpatient treatment is more flexible and may be more suitable for later stages of recovery, and inpatient patients often transition to outpatient rehab after some time. Since location is not typically the key factor for inpatient and residential facilities, it makes the search much easier.2
Although many treatment-seeking individuals and their families still prefer to find a treatment center located nearby, the following factors may be crucial:2
- Quality of care
- Treatment ecosystem
- Support group
- More focused environment
- Accountability
How to Use BCBS of Illinois Insurance for Opioid Rehab?
After consulting their doctor, treatment-seeking individuals and their families can proceed to look for and find suitable rehab programs. After they determine their ability to use BCBS of Illinois insurance and the extent to which they can use it based on their health care plan, they can proceed to work with their desired rehab center to determine their coverage for a specific treatment program.3
How to Find Opioid Rehabs That Accept BCBS of Illinois Insurance
Getting quick access to quality care is difficult to achieve, mainly because of the financial side of things, especially when it comes to long-term inpatient care.2
Many treatment-seeking individuals cannot afford to pay for treatment, and neither can their families. Because private pay for rehab, partially or in full, is seldom a viable option, they often rely on insurance to cover the costs of treatment. However, the leading, most in-demand treatment centers in the country are in network with the major insurance providers and offer multiple rehab payment options.3
American Addiction Centers’ support representatives can promptly initiate the insurance verification process for treatment-seeking individuals, as well as answer all questions about the process of substance abuse treatment, whether it concerns illegal substances or prescription medication abuse and diversion. In some cases, it may be possible to have an individual in urgent need of treatment admitted right away.1
Although it is important to discuss treatment and opioid rehab options with a doctor, it is also important that treatment-seeking individuals and their loved ones have a way to get information privately and confidentiality, and they can do that by calling the AAC helpline to speak to a person who can check their benefits right while they are still on the phone.
Many people go into rehab every year financed through BCBS of Illinois, which is one of the biggest insurance providers in the country. AAC, which is part of the BCBS of Illinois network, operates some of the leading treatment centers nationwide which offer quality care and a full continuum of substance abuse treatment services.
