The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reports that more than 130 people die of opioid drug overdoses every day. For a while, the country has been in the midst of an ongoing opioid epidemic. It has become a public health crisis, resulting in devastating consequences including increases in opioid misuse and related overdoses. In 2017, alone, nearly two million adults in the United States, had an opioid use disorder. This resulted in over 47,000 deaths due to overdose from opioids. So, what exactly are opioids, and how can those suffering receive treatment?
Opioids At A Glance
Drug overdoses are now the number one cause of accidental death in the United States. While the statistics are sad and shocking, evidence has proven that this is a deadly crisis. It strikes people of all races, ages, and income levels. It is largely driven by prescription opioid abuse as the numbers above and beyond indicates.
Opioids are drugs naturally found in poppy plants, and classified into two categories: painkillers and street drugs. The most commonly used opioids are prescription drugs used for relieving pain, such as OxyContin and Vicodin. This also includes fentanyl, which is 50-100 times stronger than morphine, and street drugs, most popularly, heroin. “Narcotics” or “pain killers” are terms people commonly use to refer to prescription opioids.
Although they do relieve moderate to severe chronic pain, these drugs are not placed into a category with over-the-counter medicines, such as Tylenol. Individuals should have a prescription from a physician to use opioids. These prescription medications such as Percocet, Hydrocodone, and others must require a doctor’s permission to take them.
Prescription opioids often help people who suffer from chronic pain. They work by blocking the pain signals sent from the brain to the rest of the body. Also, these medications also can make a person feel relaxed, happy, and sometimes high or loopy. Opioid use does not come without risks, however. Unfortunately, it often leads to overdose and even fatality. Additional side effects include depression, slowed breathing, constipation, nausea, confusion, and drowsiness.
Side effects are a commonality with various drugs out there on the market. But opioids are extremely strong drugs. And, since they work very well in suppressing pain, these drugs can be dangerous. Regular use of these prescribed narcotics can increase an individual’s tolerance. This means the body gets used to the substance. This could lead to dependence, or the need or want for drugs or alcohol. With opioids, the stronger one’s tolerance is, the more doses they are going to want. Frequent use of these types of drugs often leads to addiction and abuse. In this case, individuals might develop what doctors call opioid use disorder (OUD).
Understand that opioid use disorder is a complex, chronic medical condition requiring individualized treatment. If you have a personal or family history of substance abuse, you may be at increased risk of becoming more easily dependent on opioids. Talk to your health care provider, and if you or know a loved one who needs help, Crest View’s Opioid addiction treatment center in Asheville, NC connects our clients to evidence-based treatment and other services, to help relieve opioid cravings and promote recovery.
How do I Receive Treatment for Opioid Addiction?
At Crest View Recovery Center in Asheville, North Carolina, we offer individuals the chance to heal and recover in a beautiful and private setting. We offer treatment grounded in reality-based therapy along with various substance abuse treatment programs that promote long-term transformation and sobriety.
The question everyone always asks regarding medical treatment is will my insurance cover it? It is important for people suffering from addiction to opioids that you do not have to be part of the statistic! Help is available, and research shows that for most people evidence-based addiction therapy services are the most effective approach for successfully overcoming opioid addiction.
Have you been thinking about getting help for a substance abuse problem in your life? If you have already made that decision to get help, congratulations, as that is the hardest part! If you are reading this, you may be wondering how addiction treatment for opioids works, as every rehab facility is different. In many cases, people who are thinking or already seeking professional help to overcome their struggle with substance abuse have their concerns about what to expect. This is especially true if you’ve never been through a treatment program before.
Common questions we get concern the length and effectiveness of treatment, and one of the most pertinent issues, finances. If you are worried about these things, know that it is normal. Crest View is here to help clear things up.
Money Will Not Stop Treatment
Your health insurance policy will likely offer coverage for substance abuse treatment, making professional help accessible and affordable for you. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is supposed to guarantee a person with insurance access to the treatment they need. However, for people who are specifically struggling with an addiction to opioids, it is a whole different story. Insurance rules continue to make it increasingly difficult and limiting to treat people suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD). Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, states that measures put in place for controlling cost may be worsening the nation’s opioid epidemic by limiting key resources. This includes access to the necessary medications and counseling one needs to recover and become sober.
Money is probably the top concern when it comes to addiction treatment. Evidence has shown that many individuals opt-out of receiving necessary treatment, due to financial burden or fear that going to rehab is too expensive. Medical treatment does indeed cost an arm and a leg. Therefore, if you are having money troubles, and it is holding you back from getting the help and treatment that you need, good news, various options can help. This being an insurance plan with benefits.
In other words, it can be very challenging to sort through information about your health insurance plan and its coverage details. All insurance plans are not created equal and do cover different aspects of treatment. Although, it is important to note, that for whatever reason, some insurance plans may not cover the whole of your treatment in its entirety, and you may have to pay some additional fees. Thankfully, the compassionate team here at Crest View Recovery Center in Asheville, North Carolina can help you to find out more about how your health insurance plan, which can help you pay for most of your addiction treatment.
Will My Insurance Cover Rehab for Opioid Addiction?
Although the Affordable Care Act, implemented in 2010, has made paying for rehab easier, for those addicted to opioids to receive treatment has been a bit tougher due to pre-authorization requirements put in place, in order to manage or limit access to certain drugs, as they are addictive, and also to control costs. All too often, people are searching for the right facility to treat their specific substance abuse and addiction needs.
This can be stressful, along with the thought in the back of your mind what it will be costly. After all, medical treatment is often expensive. But, there is no need to fret! There are plans and resources that can make paying for mental health and addiction services much less of a burden.
Many people wonder, how do I find a provider to treat my addiction and is covered by my insurance? Perhaps, you’ve wondered about this, too. However, at Crest View Recovery Center, we recognize addiction as a disease or pre-existing condition. So we ensure that the various insurance companies we work with cannot deny our patients suffering from an OUD, the proper treatment, and resources that they need.
Besides taking steps to change your lifestyle, paying for your treatment should be the least of your worries. We will work with you or your loved ones to get the most treatment coverage as possible, in addition to, making sure there are little to no copays, meaning not making an individual have to pay additional money out-of-pocket. CVRC works with numerous insurance providers. Some of the main providers we partner with include:
- Aetna
- UnitedHealthcare
- Cigna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
Click here to view and learn more about the rest of our providers.
Crest View’s Insurance Providers
Aetna
Since 1853, Aetna has been helping to confront the ongoing opioid epidemic in the United States, by providing access to the proper treatment and resources to those in need. They provide insurance coverage to individuals, including a wide range of mental and behavioral health services. Aetna insurance coverage includes various options for policyholders, including inpatient (residential treatment), intensive outpatient rehab, detox, and partial hospital treatment. Coverage also includes various substance abuse programs, which aid in helping those who are addicted to drugs such as opioids and other substances receive a continuum of care.
Since Aetna insurance coverage is one of the largest companies in the country, not all plans are quite the same. It is important that every time you or your loved one is seeking treatment, check your policy extensively so that if any problems were to arise, the kinks can be worked out early on in the process. During the intake process, our addiction specialists at Crest View get to know everything necessary about all of the individuals that walk through our doors, to ensure we establish a comprehensive treatment plan that is tailor-made to fit everyone’s specific needs.
While it is true that most treatment facilities will accept your Aetna Health Insurance, each treatment facility is different. However, at CVRC, we do accept Aetna insurance plans. As we are a fully licensed drug and alcohol rehab facility, we plan to help people seeking treatment at little to no additional cost. Aetna policyholders can have peace of mind as the company has a long-term plan and strategy in place, with treatment programs and other resources that help and teach members to manage their pain more safely, without being dependent on opioids.
If you have any questions about Aetna, their insurance policy, and what it covers, our team can help you!
UnitedHealthcare
Drug overdoses are now the number one cause of accidental death in the United States. UnitedHealthcare is confronting substance abuse, specifically opioid addiction, from all angles. This insurance company has joined forces with care providers and addiction specialists, in conjunction with powerful evidence-based research and analytics to effectively treat those suffering from opioid use disorders (OUD). By implementing tailored addiction treatment plans and substance abuse programs, the long-term goal is always to prevent opioid misuse, but most importantly, lowering the statistics of deaths and overdoses that unfortunately happens all too often with people who become addicted to these pain killers and street drugs.
It is extremely common that before beginning treatment, a person will need to go through a process called detox. It’s best to receive treatment and have medical professionals monitor you. This helps them to learn all about you and your medical history and assess the problem in its entirety. As a result, they can administer or implement the best treatment plan tailored to your needs.
As addiction is a legitimate mental illness, insurance providers like UnitedHealthcare have to comply with regulations and cover at least a portion of an individual’s treatment. Serving over 70 million individuals around the country, UnitedHealthcare stands with those who are suffering and in need of treatment for prescription opioid abuse, implementing programs not only focusing on treatment but prevention as well. UH allows patients of CVRC to receive coverage for their opioid addiction, with the main goal of minimizing early exposure to these addictive pain medications, by promoting safe alternatives.
At Crest View Recovery Center in Asheville, North Carolina, we work with major insurance providers like UnitedHealthcare to help you or your loved one achieve sobriety. We know that going through detox and rehab can be a stressful and uneasy time in your life. You don’t need to stress out about your insurance plan. Let us help you!
Cigna
One in five people is at risk of becoming addicted to opioids, just by being prescribed the drug for 10-days. Cigna has made a pact with the CVRC to break the cycle of addiction and combat this opioid epidemic. Cigna has already made significant progress by reducing the use of these addictive prescription painkillers by 25 percent in just two years. They did this by enrolling customers in their insurance plan. By December 2021, the insurance company plans to raise the bar. They hope to reduce the number of opioid overdoses by another 25 percent among its commercial customers in targeted United States communities.
Finding a long-term solution for opioid use disorders and high overdose rates means communicating to modernize and tailor one’s approach to treatment and prevention. CVRC and Cigna Health Insurance work together to provide the maximum coverage possible, working to make sure you receive all of the benefits your policy provides, which in this case, includes both addiction detox and treatment.
At Crest View, we implement the right solutions to help people become sober. We work to put the stigma of mental health and addiction to an end. If your financial constraints have stopped you from getting the treatment you need to overcome alcoholism or drug addiction, our collaboration with Cigna Rehab Coverage is the solution to your problem.
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Enrolling with Blue Cross Blue Shield for insurance is a great option. Especially when it comes to those who need an affordable addiction treatment plan. BCBS insurance companies are nationwide, where their addiction coverage program has facilitated 106 million addicted individuals across America. This means almost one in every three people are insured while receiving treatment. Since partnering with Crest View Recovery Center, recovering individuals are now able to afford drug rehab. Thanks to the help of drug insurance, they can receive the treatment they need to live a healthier lifestyle. It is important to remember that each policy varies. But, Blue Cross Blue Shield provides a range of benefits for those who are seeking treatment for opioid misuse. These assorted options can cover anywhere depending on the state you live in and what plan you have purchased. A Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plan covers the following treatments:
- Inpatient Hospitalization
- Residential Detox or Non-Medical Detox
- Residential Level Treatment
- Partial Hospitalization Treatment
- Intensive Outpatient or Outpatient Treatment
For more information about Blue Cross Blue Shield’s coverage, just reach out to us today!
Don’t Wait or Fear Treatment!
At Crest View Recovery Center, we incorporate treatments and services designed on a comprehensive structure or strategic continuum of care plan. Our programs and treatment methods implemented help to reduce the number of relapses that occur, because while other drug rehab centers may discharge patients before achieving complete sobriety, our treatment centers strive to facilitate opioid-addicted individuals until we feel that they have fully recovered by overcoming their addiction, thus, achieving sobriety.
While you may not know it, your insurance policy might cover your rehab stay in full, without any additional costs. If you require drug or alcohol rehab, we want to help you! Our specialists can provide you with the right insurance plan that will cover treatment for mental health, drug addiction, and a variety of other things while in rehab. Besides seeking help for addiction, fearing that you may not be able to afford something, let alone the expense of medical bills is stressful enough. But, it does not have to be a burden any longer and stop you from seeking change that will ultimately save your life.
Contact us today at (866) 327-2505 to learn more about insurance coverage for opioid addiction, and how it can benefit you. Don’t wait, as we are ready to end this opioid epidemic, lower the statistic, and most importantly, help you recover fully, and guide you on a path to a healthy and sober lifestyle.
References
- https://www.cigna.com/about/healthcare-leadership/away-from-blame
- https://www.uhc.com/employer/news/brokers/unitedhealthcare-makes-a-difference-on-the-opioid-front
- https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2019-02-15/insurers-making-it-harder-to-treat-opioid-addiction-study
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190212190841.htm
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis
- https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/treatment/index.html
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/opioids/what-are-opioids.html
- https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/3k98kn/does-health-insurance-cover-opioid-addiction-treatment
