Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Coverage for Drug Rehab Treatment

When it’s time to get professional help for drug or alcohol addiction, a big question will likely come to mind: How can I pay for addiction treatment, including outpatient or inpatient drug rehab? Luckily, there are ways to quickly determine if health insurance will help pay for this essential and life-saving treatment, including Blue Cross Blue Shield drug rehab coverage. While the exact benefits will vary greatly depending on each person’s specific health insurance policy, for the most part, people who have a major health insurance plan will receive at least partial coverage for treatment related to addiction, such as medical detox, prescription medications, medical care, inpatient or outpatient drug or alcohol rehab, and aftercare services and support.

Mental health and substance abuse treatment have been considered essential healthcare services by federal law since the Affordable Care Act became law in 2010, meaning most private or employer-sponsored insurance plans will offer benefits to help policyholders pay for addiction treatment and dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders. If you’re not sure about how BCBS covers drug rehab costs, it’s important to know that you can ask for help when you reach out to top addiction treatment centers like Resurgence Behavioral Health in Riverside, California. Our specialists can help you verify insurance coverage and authorize how your specific plan will pay for the addiction treatment you need.

Is Blue Cross Better Than Blue Shield in California?

If you’re trying to determine if Blue Cross is better than Blue Shield in California, you’ll first want to learn the difference between Anthem and Blue Cross in the state. Anthem Blue Cross is a competitor with Blue Shield of California. According to Health for California, both offer the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, health insurance plans through the state’s exchange, Covered California. Premiums between the two choices are often pretty close to the same. The biggest difference consumers will find between Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California will be its network of available providers and hospitals. Health for California says when deciding between these two options, residents should research if their preferred personal doctor will be considered in-network – which will reduce how much they’ll have to spend on covered, routine medical services.

Can You Use Blue Cross Blue Shield California in Any State?

One thing to determine about Blue Cross Blue Shield drug rehab coverage is where it works – including if policyholders can use Blue Cross Blue Shield California in any state. Generally, the answer is yes to this question. Someone with BCBS coverage in California can use their policy across America for covered services, including urgent care or emergency care, while they’re traveling. When considering insurance coverage for rehab with Blue Shield, it’s good to know that nationwide coverage is possible. Policyholders will have the same network of doctors and hospitals across America, whether in California or another state. Again, the specifics of coverage will come down to your type of health insurance policy and what its terms dictate and allow for.

Is Blue Shield PPO or HMO Better?

Which health insurance plan is best for you or your family depends on many factors. Let’s explore the difference between PPO and HMO plans more in-depth and how it relates to Blue Cross Blue Shield drug rehab coverage:

• Health Maintenance Organizations: An HMO health insurance policy requires the use of a primary care physician for routine checkups and care, as well as referrals if you need to see a specialist. Under an HMO, policyholders must select in-network doctors and hospitals, and out-of-network services will only be covered in the event of urgent care or emergencies. HMO plans are usually less expensive and might have lower out-of-pocket costs, but they don’t have the same flexibility in choosing providers or hospitals.
• Preferred Provider Organization: A PPO plan enables policyholders to visit any doctor or hospital – in or out of the network – without a referral. However, the cost will be less with in-network providers. You aren’t required to choose a primary care physician. The most significant benefit of a PPO plan is its flexibility, giving policyholders more free reign in choosing their providers. However, they generally will be more expensive than HMO plans.

Because of these distinctions, it’s important to consider all of your options and healthcare needs when choosing an insurance policy. The policy will specify how it covers services and which providers are considered in-network, including addiction treatment services.

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover All 50 States?

Blue Cross Blue Shield is available nationwide in all 50 states for individual and family health insurance plans. However, when considering Medicaid plans, Blue Cross Blue Shield is available in 47 states. Anthem, which operates as a Blue Cross licensee in California, also serves as the BCBS licensee in the following states:

• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Maine
• Missouri (though not in 30 counties around Kansas City)
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New York (metropolitan New York City area and upstate New York).
• Ohio.
• Virginia (but not the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.).
• Wisconsin

Learn More About Blue Cross Blue Shield Drug Rehab Coverage at Resurgence

Learning more about your possible Blue Cross Blue Shield drug rehab coverage can be as simple as making one phone call to a top addiction treatment center in California like Resurgence Behavioral Health. Located in Riverside, we offer a comprehensive range of addiction treatment services, including medically supervised drug and alcohol detox, inpatient and outpatient addiction rehab programs, and aftercare support and services. We can also help people who are suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction and a co-occurring mental health disorder like depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at the same time. Our team of experts can help you or a loved one understand the best treatment programs to meet your needs while also assisting you with verifying how your health insurance policy can help cover the cost of this professional help. Get started today by calling us at 855-458-0050.

External Sources

• Health for California – Differences Between Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
• Independence Blue Cross – HMO vs. PPO
• Elevance Health – Corporate

David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.

Research | Editorial