Does Blue Shield of California Cover Alcohol Rehab or Detox Centers?

Your Blue Shield California drug coverage can assist you with treatment in alcohol rehab. Whether you are new on your journey to sobriety or have fallen off the wagon, Blue Shield substance use coverage offers a behavioral health component that includes mental health and substance abuse disorders.¹ If you are like many people across the United States struggling with an alcohol use disorder, you can find one of the Blue Shield California Insurance drug treatment providers near you and get started with rehab.

In 2020, 70,034 people in California sought treatment in a substance use facility.^2(p33) You can be among those who find healing. The exact amount of coverage you’ll have depends on which one of the Blue Shield California healthcare plans you have. These plans include:³

• Individual and family plans.
• Medicare plan.
• Medi-Cal Blue Shield Promise plan.
• Employer plan.

You can check the back of your insurance card to see which one you have.

What Does Blue Shield of California Insurance Cover for Alcohol Treatment?

The Blue Shield coverage California may cover various types of alcohol treatment. Rehab facilities offer different levels of service for people who are dealing with an alcohol use disorder or alcohol addiction. Some of the Blue Shield California Insurance drug treatment programs that may be covered include:

• Screening and assessment: This consists of thorough evaluation and screening tools to help assess what type of programs would be best suited for rehab needs. This part of the journey can also be used to map out your case plan for healing.⁴
• Detox: A detox treatment program will get you through the withdrawal phase with the use of medication and therapy. Clinicians are there to help you through the process and monitor your progress.⁴
• Outpatient rehab treatment: During outpatient rehab, you will attend therapy with a certified therapist regularly. The amount of time you’ll spend depends on the type of outpatient rehab you participate in.⁶
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP): An IOP is one type of outpatient treatment that consists of several hours of therapy a week. ⁷
• Partial hospitalization program (PHP): A PHP provides therapy sessions that include close to the amount of time you will be in inpatient rehab, but you return to your home at night.⁸
• Behavioral therapies: The behavioral therapies used in rehab treatment are evidence-based.⁹
• Treatment for co-occurring disorders: If you have both a mental illness and substance use disorder, you may need co-occurring disorder treatment. It addresses both conditions simultaneously.¹⁰

What Blue Shield of California does not cover for Alcohol Treatment

When considering what your Blue Shield California addiction treatment covers, it’s important to know that not everything is included on the list. There are certain rehabs that may offer things or features that your Blue Shield California Insurance doesn’t cover. Some of these items include:

• Non-medical amenities.
• Private room or specialty treatment services.
• Food delivery or custom food prep.
• Holistic care services.
• Recreational programs.
• Alternative therapies that are not evidence-based.
• Luxury rehab amenities.

How Much Does Alcohol Rehab Cost?

The out-of-pocket cost of alcohol rehab varies depending on what specific policy or plan you have. There are certain contributing factors that can increase or decrease the price point. Let’s look at a few of these factors below:

• The intensity of the services you receive (more intense services will cost more).
• Length of treatment (the longer treatment can increase the cost).
• The services offered at the facility (some rehab facilities offer co-occurring services, services for special populations like veterans, etc.).
• Amenities (added amenities can bring the cost up too).

Cost of Inpatient Alcohol Rehab

The average cost of Blue Shield inpatient drug rehab centers in California will vary based on the factors listed above. However, since it is inpatient treatment, you can count on it being more costly than other programs that are less intensive.

Cost of Outpatient Alcohol Rehab

The average cost of Blue Shield California rehab coverage for outpatient treatment may be the least costly due to the fact that you will be in treatment for less time. However, if you participate in an IOP, it could increase your costs since that program is more intensive.

Cost of Alcohol Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)

A PHP may cost somewhere between an inpatient treatment program and an IOP.  An intensive outpatient program averages between $243 and $598 a week.¹¹ A PHP has similar services as the IOP. So, it would be close to this price point.

Cost of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved medications for alcohol abuse.¹² The most common drugs for alcohol misuse are acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone.¹² These medications must be dispensed appropriately by a medical doctor. MAT is used in combination with therapy for best results.¹²

Alcohol Rehab vs. the Cost of Alcohol Addiction

Delaying or neglecting to seek Blue Shield alcohol rehab California can be more costly than you think. People may think of the financial cost of alcohol rehab and forget that there are other costs too. Here are a few of the other ways that alcohol addiction can cost you:

• You must pay for the alcohol habit.
• You may lose money from missing work due to alcohol addiction.
• You may have health problems from drinking that will cost you money.
• You may suffer the loss of relationships because of drinking.

What Length of Alcohol Rehab Does Blue Shield of California Cover?

The length of time that your alcohol rehab is covered depends on various factors, including your policy. Whatever length of time you have in your plan, it’s vital to get an adequate amount of therapeutic care. Experts say you may need more than one program level to get the care you need.¹³

Choosing Between Blue Shield of California Inpatient vs. Outpatient Alcohol Rehab Centers

Starting your journey with inpatient rehab instead of outpatient will bring better results. Inpatient treatment provides additional benefits that are helpful as you recover. Some of these benefits include the following:

• Better quality of care
• Treatment ecosystem
• Support group
• A more focused environment
• Robust accountability

How to Use Blue Shield California Insurance for Alcohol Rehab?

The process for accessing your Blue Shield California insurance coverage is simple. If you want to get started with a recovery plan, you can follow the steps below:

• Consult your primary care provider (PCP) and discuss your issues with them.
• Search for an alcohol rehab program that fulfills your required needs.
• Find Blue Shield rehab centers that are in network.
• Work with the chosen rehab center to determine what your insurance will cover.
• Begin the admissions process.
• Start treatment.

How to Find Alcohol Rehabs That Accept Blue Shield of California Insurance

You can make the process much easier by reaching out to American Addiction Centers (AAC) for insurance verification. An admissions navigator will look at your information and let you know what type of Blue Shield California Insurance substance abuse treatment coverage you have. You can get started on the path to recovery by verifying your insurance and finding rehab facilities in your area. Call Blue Shield California substance abuse treatment facility helpline for more details.

AAC is a leading provider of quality healthcare facilities across the nation. You can find the help you need for recovery.

Rehabs That Take Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance 

American Addiction Centers (AAC) has various rehab facilities around the country that provide drug and alcohol addiction treatment. If you have a Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plan, the following AAC facilities accept Blue Cross Blue Shield for drug and alcohol addiction rehab.

• AdCare Rhode Island: With various facilities located in Rhode Island, AdCare provides innovative, quality, and cost-efficient addiction treatment. Its integrated system of care offers an inpatient treatment center in North Kingstown and a network of outpatient offices throughout Rhode Island. AdCare’s continuum of care includes detox services, residential treatment dual-diagnosis treatment, intensive outpatient services, inpatient and outpatient services, and tele-health.
• Desert Hope Treatment Center: Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, Desert Hope provides individualized care programs as well as offering a full continuum of care including detox services, residential treatment dual-diagnosis treatment, intensive outpatient services, and tele-health.
• Greenhouse Treatment Center: Located in Grand Prairie, Texas, Greenhouse offers individualized treatment plans and many levels of care including detox services, residential treatment, dual-diagnosis treatment, intensive outpatient services, outpatient services, and tele-health, all in a luxurious setting with high-end amenities.
• Laguna Treatment Center: Located in Orange County, California, Laguna is a chemical dependency recovery hospital that focuses on treating people who are medically compromised and need 24/7 oversight. Provided care includes detox services, residential treatment, dual-diagnosis treatment inpatient treatment, and intensive outpatient services.
• Oxford Treatment Center: Located in Etta, Mississippi, Oxford offers gender-specific rehab while offering an opportunity to connect with nature and try new activities. Provided care includes detox, residential treatment, dual-diagnosis treatment, inpatient and outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient services, and tele-health, all with individualized treatment programs.
• River Oaks Treatment Center: Located in the Riverview, Florida, River Oaks offers comprehensive addiction treatment for individuals struggling with addiction and co-occurring disorders. River Oaks is a Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Facility, in recognition of their expertise in high-quality care for addiction treatment.

There are various treatment programs for individuals struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, so don’t give up if the first program you check out doesn’t meet your individual needs. There are rehabs near me that can provide the treatment you need. Check out the directory to find a list of facilities and programs. You can search by location and filter by Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance.