When you or someone you love develops an addiction to alcohol or drugs, getting professional treatment becomes a priority. Many options for healthcare that address substance use disorders exist, including detox programs, outpatient and residential treatment. Before a person investigates treatment programs, they typically have another task to sort out: how to pay for it. Over 20 million Americans have a substance use disorder, but only about 1 in 10 seek help for it. One reason many hold back on getting help relates to the cost of treatment. Even those with insurance plans including Aetna, may not understand the scope of drug rehab help available to them.
Aetna Insurance Includes Options for Addiction Treatment
Aetna is a healthcare company founded in 1853 in Hartford, Connecticut. It serves 37 million customers with a variety of healthcare plans designed to promote good health. Aetna’s network includes approximately 700,000 primary care physicians and specialists and over 5,700 hospitals. Aetna has 22 million medical members, 12 million dental members, and 13 million pharmacy benefit management services members.
Aetna insurance understands the complexity of addiction to alcohol and drugs. Drug rehab coverage through Aetna helps many families get the help they need. Aetna believes in the importance of its members who deal with substance use disorder getting the help they deserve.
A Good Starting Place for Addiction Assessment With Aetna
Sometimes a person is not sure if they have a problem with addiction and has not yet sought help. They aren’t sure what Aetna drug rehab coverage includes. A good first step for them may involve what’s called SBIRT, which stands for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment. SBIRT is part of a screening and intervention plan that helps identify any addiction issues, reduce usage, and prevent further addiction from developing.
When intervention for a developing substance use disorder takes place, it can save the patient a lot of suffering and detrimental health problems. It also results in saving money when it comes to how much they ultimately have to expend on the costs of their health care.
This type of assessment also helps primary care physicians and mental health professionals gain oversight of what addiction issues may be going on. A plan for addressing them can be put into play, often with multiple treatment team members working in tandem.
Aetna Coverage Provides Multiple Choices for Addiction Treatment
Most Aetna insurance policies cover addiction treatment utilizing a host of in-network and out-of-network treatment centers. Depending on which coverage you have, Aetna drug rehab coverage may include all of your costs or a portion of them.
Aetna drug rehab coverage covers a variety of substance abuse disorders. These can include the following addictions:
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Methamphetamines
- Opioids
- Prescription drugs
- Inhalants
- MDMA (ecstasy or “molly”)
- Marijuana
- Stimulants
- Diet pills
- Over-the-counter medications
Aetna also offers coverage for medication-assisted treatment related to addiction. This includes Narcan, which is nasal or injectable naloxone, which is used to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose. Aetna also covers buprenorphine and methadone, which prevent or reduce withdrawal symptoms for those in recovery from opioid addiction.
Addiction and Mental Health Issues Often Accompany Each Other
Aetna drug rehab coverage doesn’t just include detox and inpatient programs. It also provides access to:
- Doctors
- Physicians assistants
- Psychiatric nurse practitioners
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Counselors, therapists, and social workers
Many people who suffer from a substance abuse disorder also deal with co-occurring mental health issues. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that about half of individuals who deal with alcohol or drug addiction also have at least one mental illness. Due to the number of individuals who deal with both conditions, access to therapy as part of addiction treatment becomes paramount.
Many treatment programs incorporate the crossover rates for both conditions and offer counseling as part of their curriculum. Common mental health diagnoses that afflict those with an addiction to alcohol or drugs include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Anti-social personality disorder
Getting Started With Aetna Insurance Coverage
If you have Aetna insurance, the first step is to contact them to discuss what coverage is available to you. Call 1-800-US-AETNA (872-3862) (TTY: 711) between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. EST. You can also check the Aetna Member Services page for other contact options. You can also investigate the information available on the main website.
Make sure you have the information you need in front of you before contacting an Aetna representative. Have your insurance card and policy number ready to relay. Let them know you or someone covered by your plan needs help assessing and seeking treatment for their substance use disorder. Take notes and don’t be afraid to ask detailed questions. The health of you and your loved ones is a top priority.
Other Options for Paying for Addiction Treatment
If you need additional assistance financing treatment for alcohol and drug addiction, investigate various options you might not know about. These include:
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP): The majority of companies in the U.S. have an EAP available to their employees. EAPs are work-based intervention programs that help employees who need assistance resolving personal issues. These circumstances include addiction to alcohol and drugs.
EAP programs can offer basic legal assistance and referrals that help an employee whose substance abuse disorder may affect or begin to affect their job performance. EAP benefits for a company include fewer employee absences, fewer on-the-job accidents and injuries, fewer workers’ compensation claims, and less employee theft.
Health Savings Account (HSA): Some companies offer HSAs as part of their benefits package. An HSA consists of a savings account an employee makes deposits into that can be used for health-related expenses, including addiction treatment, prescription drugs, and therapy. It can cover the employee and members of their families. Employers may also make contributions to an HSA.
Medicaid: Medicaid offers coverage for addiction treatment for those who qualify. Each state has its own policies for Medicaid treatment for substance use disorders, so check with your state’s office to see what programs you may qualify for. Personal loans and lines of credit: Many banks, lending institutions, and credit companies provide loans for addiction treatment programs. Look for low-interest offers that can help supplement the cost of coverage.
