There can be many barriers to recovery for people who need it the most. The stigma surrounding addiction, logistics, the unknown, and much more can steer someone away from the help they need. One of these barriers is the cost of recovery. Getting help for substance abuse and mental health conditions can give many individuals a sticker shock. However, the Affordable Care Act has helped put pieces in place to allow individuals the opportunity to get care at an affordable rate. Keep reading to learn more about the cost of recovery, more about the Affordable Care Act, and how to get help at top-rated drug rehabs.
The Affordable Care Act and Substance Abuse
According to The Office of National Drug Control Policy, The Affordable Care Act (ACA) put in place comprehensive health insurance reforms that will make health insurance available to many more people, lower health care costs, guarantee more health care choices and enhance the quality of health care for all Americans.
The ACA includes substance use disorders as one of the ten elements of essential health benefits. This means that all health insurance sold on Health Insurance Exchanges or provided by Medicaid to certain newly eligible adults starting in 2014 must include services for substance use disorders.
By including these benefits in health insurance packages, more health care providers can offer and be reimbursed for these services, resulting in more individuals having access to treatment. The specific substance abuse services that will be covered are currently being determined by the Department of Health and Human Services and will take into account evidence on what services allow individuals to get the treatment they need and help them with recovery.
The Affordable Care Act and Mental Health
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, The Affordable Care Act provides one of the largest expansions of mental health and substance use disorder coverage. The law requires that most individual and small employer health insurance plans, including all plans offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace cover mental health and substance use disorder services. Also required are rehabilitative and habilitative services that can help support people with behavioral health challenges.
According to HealthCare.gov, all plans must cover:
- Behavioral health treatment, such as psychotherapy and counseling
- Mental and behavioral health inpatient services
- Substance use disorder (commonly known as substance abuse) treatment
In addition:
- Marketplace plans can’t deny you coverage or charge you more just because you have any pre-existing condition, including mental health and substance use disorder conditions.
- Coverage for treatment of all pre-existing conditions begins the day your coverage starts.
- Marketplace plans can’t put yearly or lifetime dollar limits on coverage of any essential health benefit, including mental health and substance use disorder services.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Help at Top Rated Drug Rehabs
When suffering from substance abuse and mental health conditions, it is very important to treat both conditions at the same time in order to find long-term, successful recovery. This is because one condition can exacerbate the other. For example:
- Existing mental health conditions can lead to substance abuse issues in an effort to relieve oneself of symptoms
- Substance abuse can trigger underlying mental health conditions, as mental health symptoms are a side effect of addiction
If one is treated without the other, they are both bound to return. Dual diagnosis refers to the treatment of co-occurring disorders at top-rated drug rehabs. If an individual enters treatment for addiction and treats the addiction alone, long-term results will be very poor. Addiction is a symptom of a larger issue and never stands alone. As such, the whole person needs to be treated, including any and all co-occurring disorders.
Often, individuals who enter treatment at top-rated drug rehabs do not realize they even have a co-occurring disorder until after they begin the treatment process. This is why opening up to your therapist and choosing the right treatment facility can make all the difference in your long-term recovery.
Treatment at Seasons in Malibu, Top-Rated Drug Rehab
Finding the best addiction treatment center for your substance abuse and mental health treatment is essential. Everyone who suffers from these conditions exhibits different symptoms at different severities and has different needs. This is why we craft individualized treatment plans for each and every client of our top-rated drug rehab and mental health treatment center. In addition, we develop a comprehensive aftercare program to help you get the right start on your journey once you leave our facility.
