It’s been six years since Beacon Health Strategies and ValueOptions merged to form the largest privately-held company of its type in the US, the new name being Beacon Health Options. Under the Beacon Health Options umbrella, more than 50 million customers nationwide are getting healthcare services. The company is representing over 350 employers with approximately 40 of them being Fortune 500 companies.
With that much leverage within the U.S. healthcare insurance industry, Beacon Health Options serves as a trendsetter, not a follower. For that reason, what the company provides in the form of coverage stands a good chance of becoming the industry standard.
With a serious opiate abuse epidemic raging across the nation, there is a lot of interest in how companies like Beacon Health Options cover addiction treatment needs. This would certainly be a primary concern among drug and alcohol addiction sufferers who work for employers that provide Beacon’s coverage.
If you are one of those unfortunate people, you would likely be interested to know what kind of addiction treatment services you are eligible for when you finally decide to seek help. In the following sections, we will attempt to answer some of your questions.
Will Beacon Health Strategies Help Me Afford Addiction Treatment?
Before we get into the details, you should be aware that the Affordable Care Act of 2009 addressed addiction treatment services. Under the guidelines of the law, healthcare insurance carriers must cover some addiction treatment costs to the extent they would cover any other medical condition.
Also, insurance companies are no longer permitted to discriminate against customers who have preexisting conditions. This is an important provision for addiction sufferers who would most likely lose coverage if the new provision was not in place.
What the Affordable Care Act did not dictate was the exact extent to which insurance companies must provide coverage. Here’s a short list of what they must cover to some extent:
- Basic inpatient services
- Outpatient services
- Detox programs and services
- Short-term and long-term prescription drug costs related to treatment
- Some levels of aftercare counseling
As for Beacon Health Options’ protocol for covering addiction treatment costs, we will take a look at what the company currently provides its customers. Keep in mind that Beacon Health Options maintains a team of clinical staff to handle all member and provider concerns 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. The company also participates in the Stamp Out Stigma program, a program that aims to end the stigma associated with people getting treatment for mental illness and substance abuse.
Inpatient Care Coverage
Customers need to remember Beacon Health Options offers a wide range of healthcare insurance plans. Each plan involves negotiations between the carrier and the employer. For your specific coverage, you should read your policy summary page, consult with your Human Resources Department, or contact Beacon’s customer service hotline.
Inpatient treatment is the most popular and important treatment option for clients who enter rehab with a moderate to a severe addiction problem. Most Beacon Health Options plans will cover a good portion of inpatient care as long as the service is handled by an in-network provider. If you use an out-of-network provider, you can expect all of your costs would likely be out of pocket. There is a provision for handling emergency services. Note: All copays and deductibles will be enforced for inpatient care and any other related services.
Outpatient Care Coverage
Healthcare insurance providers are typically very proactive about covering outpatient costs to the extent they will sometimes cover 100% of said care. The reasoning for this should be clear. Outpatient care is materially less expensive than inpatient care.
With Beacon Health Options, customers are afforded coverage as long as the service is handled by an in-network provider. If you use an out-of-network provider, you can expect all of your costs would likely be out of pocket. This level of care could include inpatient detox services.
If your employer covers your healthcare needs through Beacon Health Options or Beacon Health Strategies, you should be able to afford to get help with your addiction. If you are not sure, we can help you work with your carrier to determine the extent of your coverage. To get you started towards recovery, we would like you to pick up the phone and call us at 302-842-2390. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day.