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Does Medicaid Cover Rehabilitation?

Every year, many people try to find treatment for rehabilitation. Rehabilitation centers are an important part of this process. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford the cost. There are a lot of people within the United States unable to afford healthcare. This is the reason Medicaid was established for families with small incomes. This coverage is available to anyone who meets the criteria regardless of age. The federal and state governments fund this program. Although every state offers Medicaid, the same eligibility criteria does not apply to every state. The patient must be either a permanent resident or a United States citizen. This includes adults with a low income, their children, and the disabled.

To be eligible for coverage, the patient must have more than just a low income. Every state has defined statutes. This includes seniors with a low income, children of specific ages from families with low incomes, and pregnant women. There is also a category for the disabled. They may qualify for Medicaid to make certain they have health coverage. In this instance, the individual is required to prove they are disabled. The covered disabilities include blindness, physical disabilities, deafness, and mental illness. Although no state is required to take part, all of them do in addition to following the federal laws. The eligibility standards of each state determine the amount of money paid into the program and the types of services covered.

The administration of the program varies from state to state. Nearly forty million Americans received coverage in 2002. Most of them were children. By 2009, this number had increased to 63 million. The number of Americans with coverage has increased every year since. Individuals in need all over the United States rely on this program for basic health coverage. The enrollment requirements are consistently changed and modified by each state. This is the only way these individuals can afford health services, medication, etc. The biggest payer in the United Stares for rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addiction is currently Medicaid. When the act for addiction and mental health was passed, more Americans were able to get the care required for alcohol or drug addiction.

This legislation covers coinsurance, the maximum amount of money paid out of pocket and co-pays. There are also limitations for services, outpatient visits and inpatient days. There are tools used to determine the medical necessity of treatment. There are many Americans with Medicaid affected by substance abuse. Approximately 12 percent of individuals over 18 on the program have a problem with substance abuse. Every day, roughly 6,700 individuals suffering from drug abuse walk into a hospital emergency room. In 2010, drug overdoses were the number one cause of death for individuals 25 to 64 years of age. Some of these individuals would have qualified for benefits. This would have enabled them to receive treatment.

There are 27 million American children under 18 in the United States. Drug use for youths 12 to 17 exceeds the use of individuals above 18 by 25 percent. Drug abuse is most likely for children suffering from maltreatment or trauma. This includes both alcohol and drugs. There are a lot of programs for treating alcohol and drug abuse for adolescents in the United States accepting Medicaid. Finding the right program is critical. In 2018, 25.5 percent of individuals living in the United States had public health insurance. This included younger and older Americans. Approximately 42 percent of children below 18 also had public health coverage. Approximately 19.4 percent of these individuals were between 18 and 64. This type of coverage is currently accepted by many treatment services for alcohol and drugs.

There are a lot of resources for alcohol and drug rehabilitation in the United States besides Medicaid. These include care centers with state funding, grants, and scholarships. Partial or full payment for treatment is covered by grants and scholarships provided the individual qualifies for the program. Centers with state funding generally cover the entire cost of the treatment. Anyone needing help for substance abuse should look into programs funded by the state. Unlike the majority of insurance available, Medicaid may cover the entire treatment cost. In the United States, this is the biggest single payer for services for substance abuse. Not every private health insurance company covers the cost for this type of service. This program provides help for people with substance abuse needs through federal and state funding.

The treatments covered are not the same in every state. Most of the states will cover rehabilitation treatment. Ever since the Affordable Care Act became law, the program has expanded. This means even if you were turned down for coverage in the past, you may qualify now. Mental health treatment is covered by this program including treatment for substance abuse. If an individual is suffering from substance abuse due to mental illness, they will almost always be covered for rehabilitation services. If rehabilitation is recommended by a physician, the individual is usually covered. This includes anyone at the emergency room experiencing debilitating or severe symptoms of withdrawal. This is because medical supervision is required for the individual to detox safely.

Outpatient treatment centers not inside a hospital include therapy for mental health on an individual or group basis. This program may cover this type of treatment. This will depend on the specific guidelines for each state. The program is typically associated with individuals with either no income or a low income. Despite this, the expansion now includes many different individuals. This option should never be immediately dismissed because you may qualify for coverage. The most frequently covered individuals include people with disabilities or children and pregnant women. The enrollment term for this program is open. You can apply and receive approval during the entire year provided you meet the qualifications. If you do not qualify, you may be offered a lower cost health care plan.

There are two different ways you can apply. The first is the Health Insurance Marketplace. Your information will be forwarded to the correct agency within your state. You will then be contacted with the details. The second way is to go to the agency in your state in person. There are local offices available in every state. As soon as your enrollment is complete, you will be able to access all the information for rehabilitation treatment. You need to check with the individual services because not all of them will accept this program. Once you have found the options accepting this program, you can find the best rehabilitation services for your specific needs. The treatment coverage and eligibility rules are slightly different in every state. These rules will change every year. If you did not qualify in the past, you may qualify now.

There are a wide variety of jobs that do not offer health insurance to their employees. The (ACA) Affordable Care Act passed in the United States in 2010. Numerous individuals still refer to this act as Obamacare. This act mandated all insurance companies including Medicaid have to pay for the basic expenses associated with recovering from a dependency on both alcohol and drugs. This means that even though the program will cover treatment for substance abuse, not every rehabilitation program will accept this type of coverage as payment. There are numerous programs who will accept state insurance in every single state.

Every state has slightly different eligibility requirements for acceptance in this program. In most cases, the individual must be above the age of 65, pregnant, below the age of 19 or a parent with an income lower than the level set by the state to qualify for this program. There are certain states who will provide coverage for every adult provided their income does not exceed the maximum set by the state. Some states will automatically accept you into this program if you are receiving Supplemental Security Income. You can look online to find the specific requirements of your state. The requirements of the Affordable Care Act state your earnings must be below 133 percent of the of (FPL) federal poverty level to be accepted by this program.

If your income exceeds the federal poverty level, it does not mean you are not eligible for insurance from the government. You may still be in an acceptable income bracket. If you qualify for Medicaid, the majority of the states do not have a copay to be treated for addiction. If your state does have a copay, there is a maximum as to how much you can be charged. This program will cover a portion or all of numerous different services. This includes:

• Craving medications and maintenance

• Inpatient care

• Detox

• Screenings

• Outpatient services

• Family counseling

• Residential treatment for an extended period of time

• Intervention

• Other services for mental health

If you are 65 years of age or older or have a disability, you should qualify for Medicare. This program will charge you a monthly premium. This will be determined by your income. If you have a lower income, your premium will be less. A lot of people believe the cost of rehabilitation is too expensive. The truth is alcohol and drug addictions cost substantially more. According to the NIDA, United States addiction costs are more than $600 billion per year. Rehabilitation can substantially decrease this figure. Receiving treatment is about so much more than money. There are numerous substances responsible for withdrawal symptoms including issues with the heart, seizures and mild to severe health consequences.

If the substance abuse is not treated, the result is often serious health problems as time passes. This can include specific types of cancer, liver disease, and permanent damage to the memory. These conditions can all potentially be prevented when the individual is able to receive treatment and learns how to control their addiction. This enables the individual to live a much better and healthier life.

The Types of Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Treatment for addiction has been classified into several different types due to numerous studies and research. This has led to a diversification of the types of programs available. All addictions are different and will not fit into the same category. The first stage of classification is managing the withdrawal through a medically supervised detoxification program. This is the first step of the treatment. Detoxification is when the drugs are cleared from the body. This stage can have a dangerous effect on the individual. Medical supervision is critical for the safety of the individual. The behavioral, social and psychological impact of addiction is not addressed by detoxification. This means this step alone will not be enough to help the individual recover from their addiction.

Medications are generally necessary if the individual was using specific substances including:

• Opioids

• Numerous different sedatives

• Barbiturates

• Benzodiazepines

• Alcohol

This type of facility offers treatment 24 hours every day of the week. This is called a therapeutic community or a residential treatment center. The average individual will stay for six to twelve months. The treatment is provided by the entire staff. The treatment holds the individual responsible for their actions while teaching them how to live a productive life. The treatment is both confrontational and extremely structured. The activities help people to examine their destructive behavior, self-image and behavioral patterns. The individual will learn a better way of interacting with the people around them. To find out if Medicaid will cover your rehabilitation, get in touch with the team at Southside Medical Center in Atlanta, GA. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!

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