Rehabs That Accept Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield

Blue Cross Blue Shield is one of the largest health insurers in the country, offering a range of treatment services. Recent changes in healthcare legislation, specifically the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), have increased the buy-in for insurance companies in covering addiction treatment resources. Mental health addiction services have been declared Essential Health Benefits, which means that any insurance provider participating in the ACA Marketplace must offer some level of coverage. Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield offers a variety of individual, family, and Medicare plans that help make the addiction treatment process more affordable and accessible, a vital resource in an age when more and more Americans are dying from a fatal overdose.

Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield serves clients in Pennsylvania, a state that has been plagued heavily by the American drug addiction crisis. Data from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) indicates that there were 5,456 drug overdose fatalities in 2017, a large number of which were directly attributable to opioid abuse. At the same time, data from the Pennsylvania DUI Association indicates that in 2017, alcohol-related crashes increased to 10,346 from 10,256 in 2016, and alcohol-related fatalities decreased to 293 from 297 in that same general span of time. Rising rates of drug and alcohol-related deaths mandate that the state’s leading insurers step in to offer affordable, accessible care.

What Types of Alcohol and Drug Rehab Services Does Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield Offer?

Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield offers several distinct plans, including PPO, HMO, and EPO options. They also offer several tiers of coverage, including Bronze, Gold, Silver, and Platinum. Each one of these plans will offer different levels of coverage for substance use disorder (SUD).

Tiers of coverage will dictate what portion and what types of services are covered:

• Platinum Plan Members – $50 per outpatient treatment session for Personal Choice EPO plans and $40 per treatment for Keystone HMO Platinum plans. Inpatient treatment will cost $300 per day for EPO members and $400 per day for HMO members.
• Gold Plan Members – Personal Choice PPO Gold members pay $65 per treatment session for in-network outpatient providers and 50 percent after their deductible for out-of-network providers. Inpatient treatment is $750 per day for in-network providers and 50 percent after deductible for out-of-network providers.
• Silver Plan Members – Personal Choice PPO Silver members pay $70 per treatment session for in-network treatment providers and 50 percent after their deductible for out-of-network providers. Inpatient treatment is 25 percent after deductible for in-network providers and 50 percent after deductible for out-of-network providers. Keystone HMO Proactive Plan members pay $80 per outpatient treatment session and $500 per day for inpatient treatment.
• Bronze Plan Members – Personal Choice PPO Bronze members pay 50 percent after deductible for outpatient treatment services, whether they’re in or out of network. Inpatient treatment costs 25 percent after deductible for in-network providers and 50 percent for out-of-network providers.

The exact scope of coverage will vary according to each patient’s individual health insurance plan. Both inpatient and outpatient treatment services may include a combination of the following:

• Medically Managed Detox – Expert management of acute withdrawal symptoms from trained doctors and nurses, inpatient detox programs usually last up to a week and are covered if they are deemed medically necessary by patients’ physicians.
• Behavioral Rehab – Behavioral rehab includes group therapy, individualized counseling, and various supplemental therapies that may or may not be covered, depending on the tier of coverage. Inpatient rehab programs typically last twenty-eight to thirty days while outpatient programs generally last four to six weeks and consist of three to five treatment sessions per week. Intensive outpatient (IOP) programs offer a more in-depth level of care than regular outpatient programs. Behavioral rehab programs may also offer sober living of transitional housing assistance.
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) – Certain tiers of coverage under Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield will cover the use of certain FDA-approved medications to treat opioid use disorder. These medications include Suboxone® (buprenorphine and naloxone), Vivitrol® (naltrexone), and methadone. These medications are meant to be used in conjunction with other elements of treatment and are not meant to replace other pillars of care such as counseling or behavioral therapy. Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield offers a database of approved MAT providers.

Are You Covered Under Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield?

If you or someone you care about live in Pennsylvania and you need help for drug or alcohol addiction treatment, you may be covered under Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance. Even if your insurance company doesn’t cover the entirety of your care, it can make the treatment process considerably more affordable. The point is not to let fears over money or logistics get in the way of you getting the help you need to improve your future. Start exploring your coverage options under independence Blue Cross Blue Shield now.

Resources:

• For Individuals and Families
• DEA Announces 5,456 Drug-Related Overdose Deaths in Pennsylvania in 2017
• Alcohol-Related Crashes