To say that the insurance industry in the United States is complex would be a massive understatement. This is especially true for individuals from outside the industry looking in, including the millions of people that need help navigating their insurance options for treatment.
Now, this is not to say that there are not incredible insurance and financing options for individuals that need addiction and/or mental health care. The goal is not to diminish or minimize what insurance can do for individuals needing help. Rather, the goal is to offer a better understanding of what the mental health insurance options for treatment are.
Here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, we understand that most people cannot pay out of pocket for treatment and recovery center services. However, we also know that many people may be unaware that their insurance probably covers more of their mental health care needs than they may know. This is why it is critical to reach out to a mental health care assessment or admissions specialist to find the best options. A good admissions specialist will be able to help right away, and if they can’t, they will be able to provide the next steps that individuals can take.
Understanding Mental Health Insurance Options for Treatment
One of the first steps to understanding insurance options for treatment is understanding what insurance an individual has. This may seem simplistic, but many people who haven’t had to use their insurance often – or have not had to use their insurance beyond primary care – may not know that their insurance has mental health care options.
After determining what insurance a person has, there are two available next steps. The first is reaching out to the insurance company directly to get a better understanding of what services and coverages are available. Meanwhile, the second option is to reach out to treatment and recovery centers directly to see if they take the specific insurance and at what capacity.
The latter may be the best option because many insurance companies are so large they may not even know their current network or percentage coverage. By reaching out directly to a treatment center, they will know exactly if and how they take your insurance. They will also be able to interact directly with your insurance company. As professionals that do this daily, they may be able to advocate on an individual’s behalf more than they can do themselves.
Avoiding Insurance Insecurity
This may be the most important point: Insurance issues should not supersede emergency mental health care. If there is a mental health emergency, one should seek immediate professional help right away. Letting insurance insecurity get in the way of that can be disastrous and isn’t worth it.
If the need for mental health care is not an emergency, but an urgency, then it is time to start reaching out and searching for treatment options. When searching online, a good start is to focus on accredited websites. Generally, any website that ends in .gov will have links to credible places and professionals that help individuals make effective next steps.
Reaching Out for Professional Help
When seeking out treatment centers directly, be sure to look for accreditations. Unfortunately, as the mental health recovery industry has grown, so have predatory actors that are more concerned about financial gains rather than individual well-being.
A reputable accreditation to look out for includes The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval. Another reputable accreditation to look out for is specific state certifications. For example, we here at The Phoenix Recovery Center are certified members of the Utah Association of Behavioral Health Organizations.
Sometimes the hardest part of getting into treatment is knowing where to look. This is understandable; most people that are in need of mental health care have a lot more on their minds than what recovery center is going to take their mental health insurance. Then this is all the more reason to let someone handle that. When someone needs help, their only mission should be getting that help. It’s an admissions professional’s job to facilitate that help.
Insurance Options for Treatment Are Always Available
Whether an individual has private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or no insurance, there are treatment options for everyone. They may look different, but they all have the same goal in mind: To help people recover and get back on their feet.
From inpatient care to intensive outpatient (IOP) to general outpatient (GOP) to 12-step recovery, there are options for everyone. There are specific options for veterans, individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) on Medicaid, and people that qualify for Medicare coverage.
The Phoenix Recovery Center is compliant with dozens of insurance providers. The key is to start looking. For more information on your individual insurance coverage, please reach out to The Phoenix Recovery Center today at (801) 438-3185.
