Minnesota Affordable Healthcare Insurance Coverage
For those struggling with a substance abuse problem, rehab is often an important part of the process to achieve sobriety and get started on the path towards recovery. Patients need therapy and support to uncover their reasons and motivations that led to the substance abuse problem as well as help developing techniques to avoid and resist temptations in the future. For many patients, this process involves an intense trip through detox, inpatient, or outpatient treatment and then continuing care.
For many patients and their loved ones, however, the need for proper treatment is overshadowed by fears about the cost of the care. Considering that for some patients, treatment might last months, or even years, it is easy to see how costs can quickly add up to an intimidating number. Fortunately, insurance plans do provide coverage and can help patients with the costs. Here is what all patients in Minnesota should know about the Affordable Care plans available in their state.
Affordable Care Act Plans in Minnesota
There are over fifty Affordable Care plans available in Minnesota. These plans are from a number of different providers including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Blue Plus, HealthPartners, Medica, and UCare Minnesota. The plans are all divided into three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. These levels indicate the amount of care that is generally provided by the plan. Bronze level plans will cover about 60 percent of healthcare costs, Silver level plans will cover about 70 percent and Gold level plans will cover about 80 percent. Keep in mind, however, that the plans that cover a greater percentage of the care will also have higher premiums, while the plans that cover less care will have lower premiums. For example, the Bronze level plans typically begin with premiums around $170 a month while the most expensive Gold level plans may have premiums as high as $395. When selecting a plan, each patient will have to balance their monthly budget with their expected health care needs throughout the year and make the decision that will work best for them.
Under the Affordable Healthcare Act, all plans do have to provide services for mental health and substance abuse treatment. That means patients with any of the plans available in Minnesota will be able to access both inpatient and outpatient care as needed to treat their substance abuse. Payment for these types of services can vary greatly from plan to plan. Some options have copayments for either inpatient or outpatient treatment. This copayment might be as low as $30-$60 or as higher as $250 or more. Other plans might have a coinsurance payment– where the patient is responsible for a certain percentage of the cost of care. This percentage might be only 10 to 20 percent, or it might be up to 40 percent. There are also a few plans available that do not have any copayment or coinsurance cost beyond the deductible associated with substance abuse treatment.
Patients and their loved ones also need to consider the cost of other aspects of substance abuse treatment. For example, it is common for patients to need prescription medications at some point during their care. These medications can be helpful during detox, particularly for patients who had used substances such as opiates. Medications can be used to make detox easier and safer. It is also common for patients to need treatment for co-occurring disorders, such as depression or anxiety. Medications can help patients get these conditions under control so that they can better focus on their recovery from their substance of choice. Each of these insurance plans will have their own division for medications. Most plans will have different costs for different types of drugs, such as generic, preferred and specialty drugs. The costs for these medications will be either a coinsurance payment, ranging from about 10 percent to 40 percent, or it might be a copayment, which could go up to $250. Patients should review their drug coverage with their provider so they can maximize their care while minimizing their costs.
There are many consider
ations that patients must take into account when preparing to enter substance abuse treatment, with costs and insurance being an important factor. Patients should review their insurance information and speak with RehabCenter.net representatives to learn more about their treatment options and coverage.
