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Your Union Insurance Could Cover Your Rehab

When considering drug and alcohol rehab, candidates face a series of important considerations.

How would going to rehab affect your job?

Would you lose your job because of going to rehab?

How will you pay for rehab?

In This Post You Will Find:


Does Insurance Typically Cover Rehab?

When it comes to the question “is rehab typically covered by insurance,” the answer is usually “it depends on your insurance plan.” Insurance providers differ regarding the types of treatment programs covered, the items within those treatment programs that are covered, and the amount of coverage provided. Coverage even differs from company to company or state by state.

As a rule, however, most rehabilitation facilities accept insurance, and most insurance providers offer at least some coverage for drug and alcohol treatment. The amount and type of coverage is highly variable, but most insurance providers list addiction treatment as a coverable category. The five major insurance carriers as well as many private PPOs contract with certain rehab centers to ensure that they cover at least a portion of your rehab.

Does Union Insurance Cover Rehab?

If you have union insurance provided by your labor organization, chances are they will cover a portion of your rehab. If you’re seeking treatment, your hospital or medical center should conduct a verification of insurance benefits and identify in-network addiction treatment options for you. Insurance companies sometimes prefer in-network facilities and usually provide coverage at a greater rate, leaving you with less of a co-insurance payment.

However, you will likely want to review your insurance coverage before seeking treatment. In the case of union insurance, your union representative is one resource for determining your coverage if you know which questions to ask.

Does Union Insurance Cover Addiction Treatment?

Likely, your union rep will tell you the answer depends on what level of insurance you’ve chosen, the nature of the rehab, and other factors. Keep asking questions to pinpoint the coverage of your particular plan.



Which Phases Of Rehabilitation Are Covered?

Ask your union rep about detox, inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, and aftercare or recovery services. Rehab does not stop when the inpatient program is over – your recovery is a continuous process, and your insurance may cover more than you think.

  • Medically Assisted Detox

    Detox is generally an acute, medically necessary phase of treatment, and many insurance plans cover a great deal of the related expenses.

  • Inpatient Treatment

    Treatment centers often reserve inpatient treatment for those suffering medical consequences of addiction, and insurance may at least partially cover supervised daily treatment by medical professionals, if prescribed by a doctor.

  • Outpatient Treatment

    Similar to inpatient treatment, insurance plans often partly cover outpatient treatment, though coverage ranges vary widely.

  • Sober Living/Transition

    Many insurance companies do not cover sober living or halfway houses. However, your provider may offer at least partial coverage, so if you believe a sober living facility may be in your future, be sure to ask.

Does Your Policy Cover Addiction-Related Prescription Medications?

Often, patients are prescribed antidepressant, anti-anxiety, or anti-withdrawal medications while at a rehab facility. Your insurance may cover your stay, your prescriptions, neither, or both. It’s important to ask.

Does Your Insurance Cover Counseling Programs Associated With Rehab?

Most rehab programs include some form of personal counseling as well as group counseling. Some insurance companies cover a smaller portion of this aspect of treatment, while some don’t provide coverage at all.

What Is Your Copay Or Deductible?

It is rare for union insurance companies to cover 100% of addiction treatment. Make sure you are aware of whether there is a copay, as well as how much your copay or deductible is. This amount differs from plan to plan, so a personalized answer is necessary.

Do You Have To Use A Provider-Network Treatment Program?

As mentioned, some insurance companies require you to use a provider within their network for maximum insurance coverage. However, you may be exempt from network requirements if you live more than 50 miles away from a network center, or you may have the option to choose an out-of-network center based on your preferences if you are willing to pay a higher co-pay.

Do My Employee Rights Protect My Job?

Another common concern for union employees is the likelihood of keeping a union job after taking time off for addiction treatment. If you have been working full-time for your company for at least 12 months and your company has at least 50 employees, you likely qualify for Family Leave and Medical Act protection. With the FMLA, your employer is required to either keep your job while you take extended medical leave (including rehab), or provide you with a similar job upon your return.

While FMLA protection aims to protect your job in the case of extended medical absence, your employer is not required to pay you during your absence. In addition, FMLA does not apply to all employees of all companies. In addition, if your employer has a very specific policy disallowing absences due to addiction recovery for any employee, they may still hold the right to terminate you. Speak with your union rep regarding your options.

Should You Disclose Your Impending Treatment?

Union members should not have to fear reprisal for seeking addiction treatment; in fact, you could be saving your employer time and money by avoiding on-the-job accidents and future addiction-related health care. However, if you do not feel comfortable disclosing your treatment plan to your union rep, some medical facilities will make the call for you to preserve your anonymity. Once you know your options, you can proceed with notifying your employer.

In most cases, keeping your employer abreast of changes in your mental and physical health as related to your addiction treatment is a good idea. Your company may offer education or treatment programs for employees, or even relief programs for those affected by addiction. FMLA protections only apply if you adequately notify your employer of your expected absence.

Bright Future Recovery is a family-oriented addiction treatment center in beautiful California. For more information regarding the types of insurance accepted and the insurance verification process, view our admissions page or contact us today: [phone]. You can give us a call at any time to discuss this and any other concern with seeking help to break the cycle of addition.