Does Kaiser Permanente Cover Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment?
The short answer is ‘yes’, Kaiser Permanente does cover rehab treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. Although the cost of addiction treatment can be high, healthcare benefits may cover much of the expense. This page will explain more about:
- Kaiser Permanente health plans.
- Options for using Kaiser Permanente mental health coverage benefits for addiction treatment.
- Healthcare coverage for inpatient and outpatient treatment.
- How to check your benefits.
What are the Types of Kaiser Permanente Insurance Health Plans?
Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente is a non-profit health insurance company that provides coverage to 12.4 million people across the United States.1, 2 Their network includes 39 hospitals, more than 700 medical offices, 23,000 doctors, and 63,000 nurses.2 Plans are divided by the following tiers:3
- Bronze, which has the highest deductible, higher copayments for office visits, and a 40% coinsurance for inpatient mental health care once the deductible is met.
- Silver, which has a lower deductible, lower copayments for office visits, and a 20% coinsurance for inpatient mental health care once the deductible is met.
- Gold, which has no deductible, lower copayments for office visits, and a set copay for inpatient mental health care for the first 5 days of treatment with no charge for additional covered treatment.
- Platinum, which has no deductible, the lowest copayments for office visits, and the lowest set copay for inpatient mental health care for the first 5 days of treatment with no charge for additional covered treatment.
Medicaid is a federally and state-funded program that provides healthcare coverage to low-income individuals or those with disabilities.4 Kaiser Permanente offers Medicaid coverage plans at low or no cost.4 Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance to adults aged 65 or older or those with qualifying disabilities.5 Kaiser Permanente offers Part C coverage plans, known as Medicare Advantage plans, which offer various benefits.5
American Addiction Centers has a relationship with Kaiser Permanente and may be able to assist you with admission into one of our facilities. To find out if your plan with Kaiser Permanente covers drug rehab in our facilities, contact us at or use our online insurance tool to verify your coverage.
Does Kaiser Permanente Insurance Cover Substance Abuse Treatment?
Does Kaiser Permanente cover drug or alcohol rehab? Yes. Mental health parity laws have been enacted to ensure that insurance plans offer similar levels of coverage for mental health and substance use treatment as they do for physical health care.6 While Kaiser Permanente therapy coverage benefits vary depending on the plan and your specific needs, the following services may be covered:6
- Detox
- Inpatient treatment
- Partial hospitalization programs
- Intensive outpatient treatment
- Outpatient treatment
- Medication-assisted treatment for withdrawal or managing co-occurring disorders
If you aren’t sure if your insurance covers drug or alcohol rehab at one of our facilities, you can verify your coverage here.
Does Kaiser Permanente Insurance Cover Inpatient Mental Health (Treatment) Facilities?
If your Kaiser Permanente healthcare plan offers substance use coverage, such as those plans purchased under the ACA, mental health treatment is also covered. If you have a mental health disorder along with a substance use disorder, this is called co-occurring disorders, and both need to be treated. The best approach is to treat co-occurring disorders simultaneously in an integrated model
Does Kaiser Permanente Insurance Cover Inpatient Addiction Treatment?
Kaiser Permanente’s plans are mainly health maintenance organization (HMO) plans, which means that you must see providers that are in-network for treatment to be covered.3,7 Inpatient treatment, where you stay at the facility while receiving treatment, may be covered depending on your plan and individual needs, although the length of treatment that is covered can vary. Kaiser Permanente doesn’t require any referrals for mental health treatment, although you may need prior authorization before starting treatment.8
Does Kaiser Permanente Insurance cover Outpatient Addiction Treatment?
Outpatient treatment is provided in a clinic or office-based setting, so you can receive care while still participating in your usual daily activities, such as attending school, going to work, and handling responsibilities at home. Outpatient services may be covered by your Kaiser Permanente insurance plan, depending on your benefits and individual needs. HMO plans require you to seek care from an in-network provider for treatment to be covered.3,7 You won’t need to obtain a referral for any type of mental health treatment, but you may need to get prior authorization before beginning treatment.8
How Much is Rehab with Kaiser Permanente Health Insurance?
Before starting treatment, you may want to check your insurance benefits or ask about your addiction treatment coverage. You can do this by calling the phone number on the back of your insurance card. Member services representatives can answer any questions you have about your insurance plan. You can also create or access an online account where you can view your benefits or search for a covered provider.
Kaiser Permanente offers 3 types of insurance plans specifically for federal employees.9 These plans may differ based on your geographic location but will include:9
- A basic option plan, which has the lowest premiums but includes a deductible and higher copayments for office visits, hospital stays, and prescriptions.
- A standard option plan, which has higher premiums than the basic plan, no deductible, and lower copayments for office visits, hospital stays, and prescriptions than the basic plan.
- A high option plan, which has the highest premiums, no deductible, and lowest copayments for office visits, hospital stays, and prescriptions.
Paying for addiction treatment can be overwhelming, but insurance can cover a large portion of treatment, making it affordable and accessible.
Will Kaiser Permanente Insurance Cover a Stay in Rehab?
Navigating your insurance benefits can be confusing. Many insurance plans, including Kaiser Permanente, offer some coverage for addiction treatment. This may include various types of treatment, such as inpatient or outpatient services. Checking your benefits before starting treatment is a good way to confirm your coverage and avoid unexpected charges.
