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Medicare
You can use Medicare to offset the cost of addiction treatment. as long as you are eligible and qualified, you should be able to use this federally and state funded type of health insurance to pay for your treatment in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility.
About Medicare
Medicare is a public health insurance scheme that was set up to help people who meet certain outlined requirements afford the cost of care from an accredited and pre-enrolled treatment and health care facility.
However, there are some rules that you have to observe to be able to use. For instance, you can only seek treatment for your addiction and substance abuse from certain pre-approved service providers. Further, the program might not cover all types of drug and alcohol addiction treatment services.
To this end, it is recommended that you get in touch with the local Medicare organization in your county or state. This way, you will be able to receive more detailed information about what you can expect.
Medicare Eligibility
- To be eligible for Medicare, you have to be:
- At least 65 years of age
- Under the age of 65 years but living with a disability
- Under the age of 65 years but struggling with end stage renal disease marked by permanent kidney failure that would require a transplant or dialysis
If you have a low income, you might be able to use Medicaid to supplement your Medicare coverage. This way, you would get help with some of the mental health services that are not covered by Medicare as well as with coinsurance. That said, it can be difficult to navigate this public health insurance scheme.
Medicare for Addiction Treatment
You can use Medicare to pay for the cost of care at an alcohol and drug rehabilitation and treatment program. However, for you to be covered, you have to meet the following conditions:
- The addiction treatment center you choose must create a proper treatment plan that outlines all the care services that you are going to receive
- The addiction treatment facility must agree that the services you are going to receive are a medical necessity
- You must enroll at a facility that has been approved by Medicare
- You need to be enrolled with a provider that has been approved by Medicare
There are also different types of services available when you are looking to receive help for your substance use disorder while paying using Medicare. These services include but are not limited to:
i) Part A
With Part A, you can get help with paying for inpatient addiction treatment at an inpatient rehab facility or at a hospital
ii) Part B
Part B will help you offset the cost of outpatient treatment services provided by hospital outpatient centers and clinics.
iii) Part D
Using Part D, you can use Medicare to pay for the cost of the medications that will be deemed necessary for the treatment of your substance use disorders.
iv) Others
You might also be able to use this public health care insurance scheme to pay for the cost of the referral to treatment, brief intervention, and screening services that are provided in the office of a doctor or a physician.
The important thing to keep in mind is that Medicare can help you take care of your medical and health care costs while you are enrolled in an addiction treatment facility. As long as you qualify and are eligible, it should make it easier for you to get started on your recovery journey.
Questions? Need help?
If you or a loved one needs help for substance abuse or addiction, fill out the form below and a counselor will respond shortly.
