Does United Healthcare Insurance cover Heroin or Drug Rehab?

Written by: Editorial Staff

Last updated on March 17, 2021

United Healthcare (UHC) collaborates with more than 1.3 million physicians and 6,500 hospitals and other care facilities across the United States to deliver a range of healthcare solutions.¹ United healthcare plans offer solutions for people who are dealing with a heroin addiction or need drug rehab. UHC provides the following types of health plans: ²

• Individual and family plans, offering coverage from birth to adulthood
• Medicare plans, providing coverage for adults over 65 or those who have a qualifying disability
• Small business plans, an affordable choice for small businesses’ employees
• Medicaid plans, offered at a low or no cost for eligible participants
• Short-term insurance, available on a temporary basis

With so many providers covered by United Healthcare, coverage is likely available in your area. However, you can easily find out about United Health drug coverage by contacting the rehab facility you are considering. They will verify your information and determine eligibility for United Healthcare insurance heroin treatment. Additionally, you can call the number on the back of your insurance card to find out information about your specific plan’s rehab coverage.

What will United Healthcare Insurance cover?

When dealing with a heroin addiction, you need rehab insurance coverage. United Healthcare insurance offers behavioral health care, which includes mental health care with a focus on behaviors and habits as well as treatment for substance use.³

The type of United Healthcare insurance substance abuse treatment coverage you have will vary based on the specifics of your plan. You can sign in to your health plan account to find out more eligibility details, or you can call the phone number on the back of your card. ³ The different types of addiction treatment programs that are helpful for heroin rehab are:

• Inpatient/residential rehab.
• Outpatient rehab/therapy.
• Intensive outpatient programs.
• Partial hospitalization programs.

Does United Healthcare Insurance Cover Mental Health Care?

United Healthcare knows that many Americans deal with mental health conditions. Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) indicates that about half of the people who have a mental illness also have a substance use addiction.⁴ It works the other way too, with half of those with a substance abuse problem having mental health disorders.⁴In adolescents, the comorbidity rate is as high as 60 percent.⁴

Research shows a strong connection between people with substance abuse disorder and the following co-occurring mental illnesses: ⁴

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• ADHD
• Psychotic illness
• Antisocial personality disorder

Treating both mental illness and substance abuse simultaneously is critical because they can tend to exacerbate one another. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance providers are required to provide coverage for mental health care and treatment, so both co-occurring disorders and stand-alone heroin rehab fall under this mandate.⁵

How Long Does United Healthcare Insurance Cover Rehab?

When it comes to getting treatment for heroin addiction, it’s critical to do it right, so you can truly recover. The NIDA provides these principles, based on scientific research, for an effective drug addiction treatment plan:⁶

• Everyone’s treatment needs are different, so you must find the program that fits your needs.
• It’s essential to seek treatment immediately and not put it off.
• The best treatment will address all the client’s needs, not just the addiction issues.
• It’s crucial to stay in treatment long enough to get adequate help.
• Medical detox is only one component of treatment; therapy is another essential part of recovery.
• Medication may be a necessary part of recovery.

The NIDA elaborates further on the amount of time necessary for proper recovery. Generally, longer treatment times are considered most effective, even though each patient’s individual needs are a little different.⁷

United Healthcare insurance substance abuse treatment coverage has many different types of policies and tiers. These policy types determine the length of time covered by the insurance provider and are specific to the person’s chosen plan. So, it’s best to check for the plan information listed on the insurance card.

What if my United Healthcare Insurance policy does not cover heroin rehab?

There are certainly plenty of rehab centers that accept United Healthcare. However, if your specific plan doesn’t cover heroin rehab, you do have other options. Some addiction rehab facilities will offer a payment plan or even a scholarship option. Ask the rehab center what financial options they have available for you instead of delaying treatment. Most places are willing to work with people with addiction issues. Besides, putting off treatment is dangerous.

In Network vs. Out of Network Rehab Centers

If you’ve checked with your plan and read that some services are covered if a provider or facility is “in-network,” or you saw that a rehab center was listed as “out of network,” you may have wondered what the differences between these two are. In-network and out-of-network refers to whether the rehab facility has a contract with United Healthcare. If they do have a contract, they are in-network. If not, they are out of network.

In-network rehab centers have fewer out-of-pocket costs compared to out-of-network providers. However, you can still go to either one; just be aware of the potential for extra costs. You can contact the heroin addiction facility directly to find out whether it is in-network or out of network, or you can call United Healthcare directly.

Check Your Benefits

You can quickly determine whether the place you’re considering is a United Healthcare rehab center by contacting American Addiction Centers. Fill out the form below to instantly verify your insurance coverage. You can have an answer right away and begin the journey to healing.

If you’d rather talk to someone in person, you can always contact an intake coordinator at American Addiction Centers who will check your benefits while you’re on the phone. Contact our helpline for more information at 1-888-496-8059 Who Answers?.

References:

1. United Healthcare. (2021). About us.
2. United Healthcare. (2021). Health plans that care for you and your family, every step of the way.
3. United Healthcare. (2021). Behavioral health programs and benefits.
4. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Common comorbidities with substance use disorders research report.
5. HealthCare.gov. (2021). Mental health & substance abuse coverage.
6. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). Treatment approaches for drug addiction Drug Facts.
7. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Principles of drug addiction treatment: A research-based guide.