Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Insurance: Is Alcohol Rehab Covered?

In 2019, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 85.6% of Americans older than 17 tried alcohol at least once during their lives, with 69.5% saying they enjoyed alcohol in the previous year. Alcohol misuse and abuse are considered a mental health issue that affects the body as well as the mind.1

Since the congress passed the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and Affordable Care Act in 2008 and 2010 respectively, treatment of alcohol-related challenges is considered as one of 10 essential health benefits that must be covered by all Marketplace healthcare plans and won’t be restricted by yearly or lifetime dollar limits.2

There is well-supported evidence that alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be treated with professional help by several rehabilitation techniques.3 So, if you or someone dear to you is having troubles with alcohol use and abuse, you should learn more about your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi healthcare coverage and use it to seek professional help in treating this issue.

BCBS of Mississippi Insurance Coverage: What’s Included for Alcohol Treatment?

Your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi insurance coverage for mental health issues will largely depend on the healthcare plan you have and the state in which the addiction treatment is taking place.4 It’s important to note that spending limits aren’t permitted and you can’t be denied coverage or charged more because you have a pre-existing condition. 4 With all Marketplace plans you will be covered for:4

Behavioral health treatment like psychotherapy and psychological counseling.
Mental and behavioral health inpatient rehabilitation.
Treatment for substance use disorder (SUD).

Since every case differs, you should schedule an appointment for a medical screening so a doctor can assess your situation and establish what would be the desirable treatment in your case.5 With your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi insurance plan, you’re likely to enjoy rehab coverage and the option of enrolling into one of the proven treatment procedures, like:5

Medical detoxification that removes alcohol from the body.
Programs for treatment of different co-occurring disorders.
Behavioral therapies that seek to change patients’ behavioral patterns.
Inpatient hospital-like rehab.
Various outpatient rehab programs.

Additional Information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) is a federation of healthcare-providing companies that has existed for almost a century, since 1929. It operates in every ZIP code in America serving almost 110 million people in 50 states.6 BCBS federation of 34 independent companies works with more than 1.7 million top medical professionals in the largest medical association in the U.S.6

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi (BCBSMS) is a state-based insurance provider that serves local communities with a personalized approach to healthcare that is designed to lower the cost of treatment while offering each of its members an individual and affordable healthcare plan through its Primary Care Home, Blue Distinction+ Centers of Excellence and Maternity Care Quality initiatives.7

Is There Something BCBS of Mississippi Won’t Include in Its Insurance Coverage for Alcohol Treatment?

All Marketplace plans must provide “parity” protections between the treatment of mental health and various substance abuse issues and medical or surgical procedures.4 Parity protections cover limits to:4

Financial costs in the form of deductibles, copayments, and out-of-pocket costs.
Treatment duration and intensity in the form of the number of days and visits that are covered.
Care management that treats chronic medical conditions.

Your BCBSMS rehab coverage will extend to services that represent a necessary part of addiction treatment and are deemed a health-related medical necessity, like visits to a doctor, prescription medication, and behavioral health services.8 But there are certain services that usually don’t fall into the category of medical necessity and won’t be covered, such as:

Acupuncture.8
Cosmetic surgery.8
Experimental procedures or drugs.8
Custodial care that includes assistance with walking, bathing, eating, or dressing.9
Personal comfort items and services like televisions, internet or beauty treatments.9
Various diet plans and weight loss programs.9

Alcohol Rehab: Factors That Affect the Cost

Because no two cases of addiction are the same, the cost of alcohol rehab is almost impossible to judge upfront without a consultation with a medical professional. When thinking about the costs of alcohol rehab, you have to take several factors into consideration, for instance:5

Duration of treatment that can range from a few weeks to several months or even years.
Intensity of treatment that varies greatly between mild and severe cases.
Type of treatment and services offered.
Type of substance abuse treatment facility in which the rehab is taking place.
Amenities that are offered, including private rooms, beach and mountain views, pools and saunas, gyms, etc.

A Cost Overview for Inpatient Alcohol Rehab

Inpatient rehab can be more costly and intensive than other forms of addiction treatment since it takes place inside a dedicated rehab facility where patients follow a structured program under the watchful eye of medical professionals. For this reason, the length of treatment is a major component of the overall costs of rehab.5

The costs of inpatient treatment will also vary depending on the type of facility in which the patients are staying since there are luxury inpatient drug rehab centers that offer services and amenities which can resemble a hotel or a private resort.5

A Cost Overview for Outpatient Alcohol Rehab

Outpatient rehab is one of the most adaptable and most popular forms of rehab. In its least intensive forms, it can consist of nothing more than drug education or some form of short-term behavioral therapy.10 It can also serve as a stepping stone for those exiting more intensive inpatient programs as a follow-up treatment.10

There are also intensive outpatient programs (IOP) for those that would benefit from inpatient treatment intensity but who just can’t commit to staying in a hospital because of their job situation. Varying forms of intensity, duration, and type of treatment make predicting the costs of outpatient rehab very hard.10

A Cost Overview for Alcohol Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)

Partial hospitalization rehab can be a very intensive program that is administered in a hospital setting and in many ways resembles inpatient care except patients won’t be staying overnight in the inpatient drug rehab center. They are essentially outpatient programs that provide inpatient type of structured care.11

They are more intensive than IOP since they can last up to 10 hours every day with patients spending a large part of their day in a specialized treatment environment. They are a good choice for those who need more intensive care than outpatient programs offer but can’t afford full inpatient addiction rehab.10

A Cost Overview for Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Medication-assisted treatment combines behavioral therapy with clinically proven medication in the treatment of alcohol and opioid disorders. It can significantly reduce the need for inpatient detoxification.12 MAT aims at full recovery that will enable patients to live self-directed fulfilling lives. There is evidence that this type of addiction treatment approach:12

Improves patients’ chances of survival.
Increases the chances of staying in treatment.
Decreases the misuse of addictive substances and resulting criminal activity of users.

Enhances patients’ capacity to find or keep a job.
Improves birth outcomes for women that suffer from substance abuse during pregnancy.

Just like the costs of other addiction treatments, the costs of MAT could be influenced by the duration and setting in which rehab is taking place. However, there is one other factor that can be equally influential, namely the type of medication used. FDA approved 3 medications for the treatment of alcohol addiction in MAT:12

Disulfiram, which dissuades users from drinking causing very unpleasant symptoms when used with alcohol.
Naltrexone, which blocks receptors that cause intense cravings for alcohol eliminating the desire for drinking.
Acamprosate, which helps patients by reducing the painful symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

How Alcohol Addiction Costs Compare to Alcohol Rehab Expenses

The biggest cost that people who suffer from alcohol addiction have to pay is their deteriorating health. There is a strong consensus in the medical community that alcoholism increases the chance of getting various forms of cancer even among those who do not fall in the category of severe users.13

Alcohol use has a negative effect on all the aspects of the physical health of individuals severely damaging the:13

Brain, causing mood swings and irritable behavior interfering with their ability to talk and move.
Heart, increasing the chances of cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, stroke, and high blood pressure.
Liver, which suffers severe damage that can cause problems including inflammations, steatosis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis.
Immune system, which can be seriously compromised after drinking sessions making drinkers more susceptible to illnesses like pneumonia and tuberculosis.

Not addressing alcohol addiction is expensive in itself since people regularly have to spend money on alcoholic drinks to satisfy their cravings. The state of Mississippi spent $2.05 per drink or $2,277,400,000 in 2010 on excessive alcohol use alone. Alcohol addiction can also cost people their jobs, promotions, or possible income opportunities whose overall costs are hard to estimate.14

What Alcohol Addiction Treatment Duration Does BCBS of Mississippi Cover?

The length of addiction treatment largely depends on a person’s specific health situation. Full recovery from alcohol-related issues goes beyond simple remission of symptoms and implies changes to the overall lifestyle of affected individuals.15 For this reason abstinence has to be combined with changes in everyday habits and behavior making it a process that can take time and in some cases even several years.15

Like with any other chronic disease, there is strong evidence that the best outcomes are achieved by those that start with treatment early and stay in treatment long enough.5 Relapses are a common occurrence in battle with addiction and should not be considered as a failure of treatment but should serve as a sign that treatment is entering into a different faze and needs readjustment.5

Since there are many roads to recovery, people have the option to choose treatments that will best match their cultural values, socioeconomic status, and individual needs.5 If you would like to learn more information about your rehab coverage, benefits, or possible treatment you can call the number that is located on the back of your BCBS of Mississippi health insurance card.

How to Decide Between Inpatient & Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient rehab could be a good option for those that are not far down the line when it comes to addiction issues or who simply have a supportive and stable living home situation that can help them overcome AUD without staying in a hospital.10

For persons that have severe AUD inpatient treatment is the best option as it affords 24/7 continuous care in a dedicated inpatient drug rehab center where medical professionals are always available.16 Another benefit is that inpatient rehab offers patients a more structured environment with a predictable living schedule that is free of any potential triggers.16

Inpatient treatment would also suit those who:5

Have problems with transportation that limit their ability to maintain regular attendance.
Live in an unsupportive or unstable environment.
Lack a support group of peers who serve as a sober and positive influence.
Have a severe form of AUD that is making them incapable of living on their own.
Suffer from one or more co-occurring mental health issues in addition to AUD.

How to Use BCBS of Mississippi Insurance to Cover the Costs of Alcohol Rehab?

Since every case of addiction is different, the first step on the road to rehab and recovery should be a consultation with a doctor to determine your individual situation. The doctor will then be able to determine your ability to use BCBS of Mississippi insurance and match you with a suitable rehab program that will address your specific mental health needs.5

After you completed the doctor’s appointment, you will have enough information to be able to make an informed decision about your treatment. Since you have a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi healthcare plan, you’ll have the option of looking into American Addiction Centers (AAC) nationwide network of top-notch inpatient rehab centers to choose the best treatment option for you.

Which Alcohol Rehab Centers Accept Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Insurance?

Call a dedicated helpline for alcohol addiction issues and let AAC’s compassionate and knowledgeable admissions navigators check your benefits and verify your BCBSMS insurance coverage in one phone call. All calls are confidential and informative, so you will not be obliged to enter into treatment. You will also get answers to all the questions concerning specific addiction treatment programs that will help you choose a rehab center that is best suited to your needs.

AAC operates a secluded, high-class rehab facility in Etta Mississippi called Oxford Treatment Center located by a lake near a national forest. The facility accepts BCBS of Mississippi insurance substance abuse treatment coverage and offers luxury rehab programs and a variety of proven treatment techniques, such as:

Detoxification.
Inpatient rehab.
Residential treatment.
Behavioral disorder treatment.
Dual-diagnosis treatment.
Outpatient and intensive outpatient services.
Sober living home.
Telehealth.

You can also check out other treatment options across the state, such as:

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi: Alcohol Rehabs & Detox