Beacon Insurance Coverage for Rehab and Detox
Does Beacon Insurance Cover Rehab for Drugs or Alcohol?
Coverage for drug or alcohol addiction treatment is offered by most insurance plans, including Beacon insurance. Beacon substance abuse coverage varies based on the type of plan you have and where you live, but in general, most plans cover some part of addiction treatment, including detox and rehab.
Detox is only the first phase of treatment, and it is the process by which you gradually clear drugs or alcohol out of your body. Detox is not necessary for all substances, but it is critical for alcohol and drugs such as benzodiazepines because abruptly stopping these substances can lead to seizures.3 (P. 20-21) Detox usually lasts a few days and is followed by inpatient or outpatient treatment.4
Types of Treatment Covered by Beacon Insurance
Beacon insurance covers a variety of addiction treatment services, including:
Depending on your needs, detox may be followed by either inpatient or outpatient treatment, or perhaps both. Some people go straight to outpatient treatment after detox, while others may go to an inpatient program followed by outpatient treatment as a step-down. Inpatient treatment may last a few days, or in some cases, a few weeks. Inpatient treatment provides 24/7 oversight while you undergo detox, which can offer you emotional support, as well as making sure you do not have any preventable complications during withdrawal and helping you to manage any unpleasant side effects that you may experience. Outpatient treatment typically includes 2- to 3- hour sessions, 2 to 3 days per week. Outpatient treatment may last for months. Again, the authorization of these services depends on your needs as determined by your treatment providers.4
Anyone on your Beacon plan can access these addiction treatment services, whether it is you or your family members who need Beacon detox coverage. Please note you will need to check with your specific plan to see what coverage is available. Any services and authorizations by Beacon depend on what your treatment provider determines you need.
How to Check Your Beacon Insurance Treatment Benefits
The first step in learning what your Beacon plan might offer in terms of insurance coverage for rehab is to contact a Beacon representative by calling the number on the back of your insurance card. You can also visit the Beacon Health Insurance website and login as a member to learn about your specific plan benefits.
You may also contact the rehab provider to verify your coverage. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is in-network with Beacon insurance, our support representative can help you verify your exact Beacon coverage details.
Types of Beacon Insurance Plans
Beacon is a private insurance company that has been in business for more than 30 years and insures approximately 40 million people in all 50 states.1 Beacon offers a variety of plans, which vary from state to state and from one employer to another.
Beacon works with Medicaid and Medicare in multiple states to provide comprehensive behavioral health and drug rehab insurance coverage. In California, for example, Beacon works with Kaiser Permanente in both Northern and Southern California, as well as Value Options of California, which is now called Beacon Health Options. In addition, they administer behavioral health and substance abuse benefits for members on several Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield offers both Medicare and Medicaid managed plans.
In New York, Beacon administers Medicaid plans, such as the one offered through the Affinity plan. In general, when you have a Medicaid plan, most services are provided without a copay or a deductible that you must meet to have services covered. Medicaid will typically cover some combination of inpatient and outpatient treatment, though what will be authorized for your treatment depends on your individual needs and what your treatment provider determines that you need. Specifics depend on your state. This chart outlines what kind of rehab or detox programs may be covered in your state. For Medicare, your plan may require payment of a deductible or copayment and Medicare generally covers inpatient, outpatient, or partial hospitalization programs according to what your doctor believes that you need for treatment.2
Regardless of whether you have Beacon through an employer’s plan or Medicaid or Medicare, Beacon typically covers treatment for multiple types of substance use disorders, including alcohol, opioids, benzos, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin.
Beacon offers specific programs for opioid addiction treatment, for example, and offers benefits and coverage based on research for best practices.
How to Use Beacon Health Options to Pay for Rehab
In order to use Beacon Health to cover some or all of the cost of rehab, you’ll first need to determine your benefits. This can be done by contacting a Beacon Health representative. Following this, you may need to obtain preauthorization. This can be done by communicating with Beacon Health and any prospective rehab facility. In order to obtain your full benefits, it’s important to determine if a rehab is in-network with Beacon Health. Receiving treatment at an out-of-network facility may result in Beacon Health providing less benefits and greater out-of-pocket costs.
How Much Does Beacon Cover?
While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires all health insurance plans to provide some degree of coverage for the medically-necessary treatment of mental and behavioral health disorders, this does not mean Beacon Health will cover all costs. While many individuals can expect their Beacon Health insurance plan to provide some degree of coverage, there are several factors that may result in the full cost not being covered. These factors may include:
- Type of Beacon Health insurance plan.
- Where you attend treatment.
- Whether a rehab facility is in-network with Beacon Health.
- The intensity of treatment.
- The length of treatment.
- The accommodations and amenities offered by a rehab facility.
It’s important to reach out to a Beacon Health representative in order to verify your coverage before committing to treatment.
Do Rehab Facilities Need to Be In-Network with Beacon?
Oftentimes, Beacon Health insurance will offer the most coverage to those who attend addiction treatment at an in-network rehab facility. In-network facilities work with Beacon Health insurance plans to provide their members with quality care at a certain price. While you can still attend treatment at an out-of-network facility, you may find your Beacon Health benefits significantly reduced. It’s important to reach out to any prospective rehabs and check if they are in-network with Beacon Health before committing to treatment.
Check Your Beacon Treatment Coverage at American Addiction Centers
Finding Rehabs that Accept Beacon Insurance
At American Addiction Centers (AAC), we offer locations nationwide at which you can receive leading-edge treatment for your substance use disorders. American Addiction Centers works with many insurance providers, including Beacon, to provide you with choices for your alcohol or drug rehab needs. To find a local treatment facility near you, call our rehab hotline at or text us. You will speak to a trained referral specialist who can help you check your benefits and determine how American Addiction Centers can meet your needs for alcohol or drug detox and drug rehab.
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