Skip to main content

Detox Insurance: What Is It, What Does it Cover, and How Do I Qualify?

4 min read

By Kristina Obodovskiy

Alcohol and substance abuse addiction is a serious mental health condition impacting millions of Americans. Approximately one in seven Americans will develop a severe substance abuse disorder in their lifetime. However, only one in 10 will seek treatment for their condition.

Many reasons, such as stigma, can cause someone to hesitate to seek professional help for their addiction. But, perhaps one of the most significant barriers is cost. Drug detox and treatment can be expensive, and many feel they can’t justify the costs. That’s where detox insurance can help.

What Does It Mean to Detox?

First, it’s essential to understand what detox is. Detox, also known as detoxification and withdrawal treatment, is the process of clearing all drugs and alcohol from a person’s system. This is a necessary precursor to treatment.

Detox is often challenging because both the body and the mind have become dependent on the abused substances. It can be quite a shock to the body to go from having a regular supply to having nothing. The body responds with withdrawal symptoms ranging from mild (headaches, sweats) to severe (seizures, hallucinations, heart issues).

Why You Should Detox in a Rehabilitation Setting

The severity of your withdrawal symptoms will depend on many factors, including which substances you were using, in what quantities and for how long.

In some cases, withdrawal symptoms can be quite dangerous. This is why it’s recommended to detox in a professional rehabilitation center. The staff can monitor patients and intervene if a medical emergency occurs. Additionally, many rehab facilities offer detox medication management. Patients are given small, controlled amounts of medication that help to ease their withdrawal system. This can make the detox process a much more tolerable experience, which can help reduce the risk of relapse.

What is Detox Insurance Coverage?

If it’s so clear why detox should be done at a rehab clinic, why does anyone try to do it on their own? The simple answer is that they’re probably worried they can’t afford the costs. And while rehab can be expensive, there are options out there. Most notably, detox insurance can help.

Detox insurance is a type of medical insurance that covers detox programs in rehab facilities. The Affordable Care Act mandated all private insurance companies provide some type of substance abuse treatment coverage to all members. This includes coverage for detox programs.

Suphaksorn Thongwongboot / Shutterstock

What Does Detox Insurance Cover?

What’s covered under your detox insurance will depend on your specific insurance plan. Your detox insurance coverage may include some of the following:

Ultimately, what your plan does and does not cover will depend on the type of treatment you get and the costs. Additionally, note that some rehabilitation centers don’t accept payments from insurance companies.

It’s important to get a quote before enrolling in a detox program. Submit the quote to your insurance provider to understand what costs will be covered.

Who Gets Detox Insurance Coverage?

The 2010 ACA made it mandatory for all health insurance companies to offer coverage for detox programs. Substance abuse disorders are preexisting conditions, and detox is an essential medical service. As a result, insurance providers now must partially or fully cover detox and treatment.

However, there are two situations in which you wouldn’t qualify for detox coverage:

  1. Your insurance policy has been active since 2010 or earlier without any changes made to it
  2. You have emergency or short-term health insurance policies

You can confirm your coverage by contacting your insurance provider directly.

Paying for Rehab With Detox Insurance

Paying for rehab when you have coverage can look very different depending on your insurance company’s requirements. Some of the most common scenarios are:

Most insurance companies will have a list of rehabilitation facilities in their network that they would prefer you visit. If you choose to go with an out-of-network rehab, you could receive less coverage or no coverage.

Verify Your Coverage Today and Get Help

Don’t let confusion around your insurance coverage stop you from getting help. Addiction is a serious condition that shouldn’t be ignored. If you have health insurance, you probably have some form of detox coverage. And if you don’t have health insurance, you can sign up for a plan today to get coverage. The road to recovery and a healthier, happier life starts with detox. Call your provider today for a clear understanding of what’s covered under your detox insurance. After that, you can make an informed decision about where to go for detox and treatment.

Kristina Obodovskiy

Contributor

Kristina Obodovskiy is a full-time marketing professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management. Outside of her career, Kristina’s passions include writing, reading, traveling, and being outdoors. She used to describe herself as a “yoga person,” but has come to terms with the fact that going to a yoga class once a month hardly makes you a yogi.

Your Health

Explore

2025 Medicare Open Enrollment Changes You Should Know
By Sponsored Your Health

2025 Medicare Open Enrollment Changes You Should Know

The 2025 Medicare Open Enrollment season brings some of the most significant changes in recent history, driven by the Inflation Reduction Act. With open enrollment running from October 15 to December 7, now is the time to review your current plan and explore new options for the coming year. A $2,000 Limit on Out-of-Pocket Prescription […]

Read More about 2025 Medicare Open Enrollment Changes You Should Know

4 min read