Magellan Health Insurance for Addiction Treatment

Magellan Health Insurance

Magellan Health is a managed health care provider that specializes in behavioral healthcare, including substance abuse. The Fortune 1000 Company was founded in 1969 as a psychiatric hospital chain known as Charter Medical in Macon, Georgia. Now headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Magellan Health has greatly expanded over the years, especially after acquiring Merit Behavioral Care Corporation, another provider of mental health and substance abuse services, in 1997. Over 33 million customers currently receive coverage through Magellan Health.

Magellan Health’s focus on behavioral health is comparatively rare in the health insurance industry, which makes the company uniquely suited to providing many forms of care. It also makes the company a desirable partner for other health insurance providers who do not have the same level of specialization to fill in gaps in their coverage.

Magellan Health Addiction Resources

Magellan Health specializes in behavioral health, and one of their most important focus areas is substance abuse treatment. The company maintains a network of more than mental health 77,000 partners, many of which are drug and alcohol rehab treatment centers or mental health professionals who specialize in addiction treatment.

The company provides numerous programs designed to fight substance abuse, including employee assistance programs, employer assistance programs, integrated behavioral health programs, early detection programs, and programs specializing in children. The company also provides a wealth of information, including documents and videos, on its website, Magellanhealthcare.com.

Magellan Health Policy Coverage for Substance Abuse

Magellan Health offers a number of plans, each of which provides different coverage. The co-pays, set fees for services that the insured will have to pay each time that service is provided before Magellan Health will pay, and deductibles, a total amount of money the insured will have to pay in a year before Magellan Health will pay for services in that year, will vary significantly from plan to plan. The services that are covered and the amount of coverage will also vary. Additionally, the partnerships that Magellan Health maintains with other providers may impact the coverage of any particular customer.

Magellan Health does provide extensive coverage for substance abuse treatment, and the company is more knowledgeable about substance abuse treatment than most. Some plans may focus primarily on addiction treatment, and most will cover addiction treatment as an important facet of overall behavioral health.

Do Treatment Centers Need to Be In-Network?

Magellan Health plans vary, as do their requirements. Some plans will require that customers exclusively see in-network providers, others may offer financial incentives to see in-network providers over out-of-network providers, and yet others may not require customers to see in-network providers. In general, plans that do not require patients to see in-network providers will be more expensive than other plans.

Magellan Health Coverage for Inpatient Treatment

Magellan Health covers a wide variety of inpatient drug and alcohol addiction treatment services, although exact coverage will vary from plan to plan. Examples of services covered by many plans include:

• Supervised drug and alcohol detox
• Addiction treatment medications
• Treatment center stays
• Dual-diagnosis treatment
• Therapy
• Transitional care

Inpatient Rehab Service and Costs

The amount of coverage provided and which services are covered will be different depending on a number of factors, such as the plan, where the customer lives, and whether the service provider is in-network. In general, customers will have to pay co-pays and meet deductibles themselves before Magellan Health will contribute.

In general, plans that are more expensive on a monthly basis will have lower co-pays and deductibles, but this may vary. Similarly, plans that cover more family members will generally be either more expensive or have higher co-pays and deductibles.

Magellan Health Coverage for Outpatient Treatment

Magellan Health offers extensive coverage for outpatient drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Each plan will offer different treatment, but most will cover many services. Many plans will cover services such as:

• Monitored drug and alcohol detox
• Addiction treatment medications
• Addiction recovery care
• One-on-one-counseling
• Coping mechanisms
• Aftercare programs

Outpatient Rehab Services and Costs

While many Magellan Health plans provide a significant amount of coverage for outpatient rehab services, the exact services covered and the amount of coverage will differ according to the guidelines of the individual plan. Regardless of the plan, customers will have to pay co-pays and meet deductibles in most circumstances. Additionally, under some plans, customers will have to pay all fees associated with out-of-network providers.

Typically, outpatient drug and alcohol addiction treatment services are less expensive than inpatient services, but that may or may not impact what they plan holder has to pay, especially when it comes to co-pays and deductibles. The best way to determine what your costs will be is to consult with the specific plan, potential service providers, and a Magellan Health representative.

How Can I Pay the Costs Not Covered by My Beacon Plan?

The cost of rehab can be a significant obstacle to overcome for many families seeking drug and alcohol rehab. Luckily, insurance can significantly lighten this burden, although it typically does not cover it all. There are a number of ways to fund treatment outside of insurance, however. These options may cover all or part of the cost of treatment that is not covered by Magellan Health. It is important to remember that no matter what option you choose, the financial cost of addiction far outweighs the cost of addiction in the long run. Methods for paying for the cost of treatment include:

• Financing from banks and other institutions
• Secondary health insurance policies
• Federal, state, and local government programs
• Sale of property and possessions
• Fund-raising

If you are trying to figure out how to pay for rehab for yourself or a loved one, you don’t need to worry. Help is out there. Contact a dedicated treatment expert today and figure out what rehab meets your needs, financial or otherwise.

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