AmeriHealth Coverage for Drug and Alcohol Detox & Addiction Treatment

AmeriHealth Insurance has been around since 1995, offering standard health insurance coverage for individuals, families and seniors. AmeriHealth also has a Behavioral Health Program that’s specifically designed to provide insurance protections for people struggling with substance abuse and mental health problems.

With detox treatment being an essential first step in the recovery process, affordability shouldn’t have to be a deciding factor when it comes to getting needed treatment help. If you have an existing AmeriHealth plan, there’s a good chance it will offset a considerable portion of your treatment costs. More than anything else, the type of plan you have will determine the extent of your coverage as well as any associated out-of-pocket costs you’ll have to pay.

Does AmeriHealth Cover Drug & Alcohol Detox?

AmeriHealth will cover at least part of your detox treatment.

AmeriHealth plans do cover drug and alcohol detox treatment, though actual plan coverages can vary depending on the type of plan you have. In general, an AmeriHealth plan will provide either partial or full coverage, though out-of-pocket costs, such as copayments and deductibles must still be paid regardless of the plan type.

Something else to keep in mind has to do with whether a particular program is within your insurance provider’s network. The more expensive health plans, such as PPOs and POSs, will cover a portion of treatment costs regardless of whether a program is inside or outside of the network. The less costly plans, such as HMO-based plans, only allow you to choose from within your assigned network.

Does AmeriHealth Cover Drug & Alcohol Rehab?

Anyone who’s abused drugs or alcohol for any length of time will likely require ongoing treatment after completing detox. Ultimately, the severity of your condition will determine the course of your recovery.

AmeriHealth insurance will cover detox; however, not all plan types cover drug and alcohol rehab past the detox stage. AmeriHealth covers rehab treatment under your policy’s mental health benefits. Also, the plans that do cover rehab treatment will cover some of your treatment costs, but not all of them.

AmeriHealth plans that cover rehab services include:

• AmeriHealth 65 (HMO)
• AmeriHealth HMO/POS
• AmeriHealth PPO

Something else to keep in mind is any rehab services you receive must be deemed medically necessary in order to qualify as essential health benefits. This means, your treatment provider must justify the need for continued rehab care before AmeriHealth benefits can be used to cover your treatment costs.

How Long Will AmeriHealth Cover Detox Services?

Detox treatment can run anywhere from seven days to three months in duration depending on the severity of your condition. AmeriHealth insurance will cover the entire duration depending on the length of your stay and the type of policy you have.

AmeriHealth plans are divided into four tier types:

• Bronze (least expensive, lowest coverage)
• Silver
• Gold
• Catastrophic (most expensive, highest coverage)

On average, most plans will cover up to 90 days of rehab treatment. Once again, your coverage benefits will go further with in-network detox programs for most all AmeriHealth plans.

What’s most important is to choose the program that offers the level of treatment support you need to make it through the detox stage. If your plan doesn’t cover the level of care you need, at the very least, consider transitioning to an outpatient program. Outpatient treatment costs run considerably lower than inpatient and residential detox programs and are more likely to be covered by your existing plan.

Does AmeriHealth Provide Coverage for Luxury Detox & Other Non-Essential Benefits?

Luxury detox programs offer standard treatment care along with a range of amenities. These programs also offer plush accommodations, such as ocean-side settings, as well. Amenities can range anywhere from sauna and massage services to equine therapy. Luxury detox programs may also employ alternative treatment approaches that draw upon the latest research and technologies within the addiction field.

The more expensive AmeriHealth plans, such as PPO, POS and EPO plans will cover luxury detox treatment provided you’ve chosen benefit amounts that can cover the costs of these programs.

How Can I Cover the Excess Costs of Detox That Are NOT Covered by Insurance?

While deductibles and copay amounts may only be a fraction of your total treatment costs, they can add up quick; especially in cases where long-term treatment is needed. Having to cover these out-of-pocket costs can be stressful to say the least, but there may be other options to consider depending on your situation.

If your health plan won’t cover excess costs or AmeriHealth refuses to cover services your treatment provider deems necessary some rehab programs will allow you to stay on a scholarship basis to help ensure your continued success in recovery. Along with scholarships, other options to consider include:

• Third-party financing
• Borrowing money from family and friends
• Setting up payment arrangements with the treatment facility
• Paying on a sliding-fee scale (if available)

Free Insurance Benefits Check-Your Detox May Be Fully Covered

Determining what your AmeriHealth plan will and will not cover may well require some online research and more than a few phone calls. Add to this the time involved with finding a detox program that accepts AmeriHealth coverage and the task becomes even more so cumbersome.

We here at Detox.com work with a number of detox programs so we’re well positioned to help you match your plan coverage with a program that’s right for you. Call our toll-free helpline at 800-996-6135(Who Answers?) to discuss detox treatment options with one of our program advisers.