Texas Blue Cross Blue Shield Covered Alcohol Treatment Facilities

 

 

Blue Cross Blue Shield is one of the biggest healthcare insurance providers in the United States. Texas residents with insurance plans through Blue Cross Blue Shield can use their health insurance plans to cover and pay for some parts of alcohol rehabilitation. The substance abuse treatment policies vary according to the coverage amount and by the plan. Families and individuals that use their Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plans to cover the cost of alcohol rehab can take advantage of significantly reduced costs. In some cases, Blue Cross Blue Shield may cover the entire stay at an alcohol rehab center in Texas. Families should take advantage of their health insurance to pay for alcohol rehab. Affording alcohol rehab in Texas should not keep a person from getting the treatment they need.

The rehabilitation process for alcohol addiction using health insurance involves proper withdrawal management and detox, residential alcohol rehab, outpatient treatment, and proper aftercare support. The first step is alcohol detox, and this may involve a medically supervised detox or a partial hospitalization program. Alcohol detox should not be considered the only approach, and the next step involves attending a residential or outpatient alcohol rehab program. Health insurance typically covers most forms of alcohol rehab. It is also important for families and addicts to consider aftercare support like 12-step meetings, peer support groups, and sober living homes. 

 

How Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance Cover Alcohol Rehab in Texas?

Health insurance was once considered a bit of luxury, but with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, more people in Texas have health insurance. Health insurance plans cover alcohol rehab to help families access the proper treatment they need. Blue Cross Blue Shield plans for alcohol rehab vary in terms of what type of insurance coverage they provide or how long they cover alcohol or drug rehab. When determining what alcohol rehab in Texas Blue Cross Blue Shield covers, it is important to speak with the health insurance provider and the alcohol rehab center. Most alcohol rehab centers can help walk a family through the process of using their health insurance to pay for alcohol rehab. 

The two most common health care plans are Health Maintenance Organizations plans and Preferred Provider Organization Plans. HMO plans allow patients to choose their primary care physician and see that doctor for most of their medical and treatment needs. When seeking alcohol rehab outside of the network, a referral is needed by the primary care physician. Typically, HOM plans have lower or no deductibles, and overall coverage is usually a lower cost. PPO plans allow patients to seek healthcare providers in and out of their network without referrals. Typically, PPO plans have higher deductibles than those of an HMO plan.

 

What Type of Alcohol Rehab Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance Cover in Texas?

Some of the common alcohol rehab options that health insurance covers include medically supervised detox, outpatient treatment, residential or inpatient programs, medication-assisted treatment, counseling, and short-term alcohol rehab. Other treatment options include long-term treatment, behavioral therapy, group therapy, individual therapy, and partial hospitalization programs. Each of the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans offers different coverage levels. While most services are covered, each service is covered at a specific percentage level for each plan. Overall, every health insurance plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield is uniquely tailored to the policyholder.

Health insurance plans within the marketplace must provide care in 10 essential health categories, one of those being addiction care. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans are required to provide a one page summary of benefits and therapies along with their fees. Health insurance providers like Blue Cross Blue Shield do help states to keep costs down. Treating alcohol addiction may require a medical detox to manage withdrawal cravings that have the potential to be dangerous. Blue Cross Blue Shield plans different outpatient or residential treatment options and may even cover counseling or recovery resources after alcohol rehab. However, most aftercare support like 12-step meetings or peer support groups is free.

 

Family Intervention for Alcohol Addiction in Texas

Watching a loved one struggle with alcohol addiction is not easy, yet family intervention can motivate the alcoholic to get help and attend alcohol rehab. Family members may take the time to organize an alcohol rehab program in Texas through their Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance, and the next step is convincing the addict they need help. People who struggle with alcohol addiction are often in denial about their situation and unwilling to seek treatment. They may also not recognize the negative effects their behavior has on themselves and others. Family intervention for alcohol addiction presents the addict with a structured opportunity to make changes before things get worse.

The best way to plan and organize a family intervention is by hiring a professional interventionist. Family intervention is a carefully planned process that is done with family, friends, and an interventionist. During the intervention, these individuals come together to confront the addict about the consequences of addiction and ask them to accept treatment. The intervention provides specific examples of their destructive behavior and their impact on the addict and their family. In addition, it offers prearranged treatment plans with clear steps and goals. In the event the alcoholic refuses treatment, the family follows through with a bottom line and consequences.

 

Health Insurance and Alcohol Addiction Trends in Texas

Blue Cross Blue Shield covers some parts of alcohol rehab, but not every individual or family in Texas has health insurance. According to the United States Census Bureau, approximately 17.7% of residents were without health insurance in 2018. During that time, 61.8% had private health insurance, and 29% had public health insurance. Unfortunately, alcohol addiction is a common problem that impacts many families. According to the Texas Behavioral Health Barometer, among people aged 12 or older in Texas, the annual average percentage of alcohol use disorder in the past year decreased between 2002 and 2005 and 2014 and 2017. Between 2014 and 2017, the annual average prevalence of past-year alcohol use disorder in Texas was 5.2%.

 

Sources-

https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/cbhsq-reports/Texas-BH-BarometerVolume5.pdf

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/11/state-by-state-health-insurance-coverage-2018.html