Will the Loss of Insurance Affect My Ability to Receive Methadone Maintenance Treatment?

Losing your insurance in the middle of methadone maintenance treatment can be extremely scary.

You might be worried about finding a way to pay for your treatment so that you don’t have to stop before you make a full recovery.

Don’t let this worry you too much. Luckily, there are options other than private insurance that can help you afford treatment.

By doing some research and investigating the laws and regulations in your state, you’ll be able to get the financial assistance you need to cover your methadone until you can get insurance again.

Still not sure what to do about your lack of insurance? Please, don’t panic.

Call 800-678-5931(Paid Advertiser) now to learn more about treatment options available to you.

What Are Some Options for Methadone If You Don’t Have Private Insurance?

If you have a disability you may qualify for Medicaid.

Depending on your age, disabilities, and financial situation, you may be eligible for either Medicare or Medicaid.

While Medicare is offered by the federal government, Medicaid is managed on both the federal and the state level and can therefore vary depending on where you live.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a program for people who lack the financial income to pay for their own insurance. In particular, it is for people who are 65 or older, under 19, pregnant, have a disability, or have children to take care of.

In particular, Medicaid covers hospital stays and long-term support services to help with drug addiction. However, not all states cover methadone treatment, so it’s important to do your research to see if you are eligible.

Back in 1999, methadone maintenance therapy was only covered by Medicaid in 12 states. However, as demand for methadone has grown, over 31 Medicaid programs now cover methadone as a preferred drug as of 2013.

Medicare

Medicare is typically for people over the age of 65. It can also be for people under 65 if they have a certain qualifying disability.

In particular, Medicare Part C will be especially important for your methadone maintenance treatment. It covers outpatient therapy, hospitalization for severe withdrawal symptoms, and prescription drug coverage for treatments like methadone.

While Part D provides prescription drug coverage, methadone is not covered because it cannot be dispensed at a retail pharmacy. Therefore, you don’t need this particular plan.

However, in order for your treatment to be covered, it will need to be deemed medically necessary and performed by a facility that is Medicare-certified.

6 Incredibly Useful Tips to Help You Find Free Methadone Treatment

The following tips will help you find the free methadone clinic that best meets your needs.

Self-Pay

If all of your other options fail, then you will have to pay for methadone on your own.

While this sounds like an insurmountable task, consider this: the average cost for a year of methadone maintenance treatment is only $4,700.

Yes, it’s a hefty sum. Yes, you might have to take out a loan to afford it. However, when compared with the money you were spending to appease your former addiction habit, it’s really just pocket money.

If you don’t have the credit to get a loan to pay for this, consider asking friends and family for help.

While they might have been exasperated about your money-borrowing habits in the past, chances are they’d be 100 percent willing to do anything they can to help you get better.

Get New Insurance

Keep in mind that the Affordable Care Act has made it possible for every US citizen to receive healthcare, regardless of their medical history. If you do end up losing your insurance, you can check out the Healthcare Marketplace to browse for new plans that will cover your addiction treatment.

Even better, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 now requires health insurance companies to offer the same amount of behavioral health benefits as they do for primary care.

Ready to get started? Call 800-678-5931(Paid Advertiser) today for more help finding nearby methadone treatment centers.