Affordable Care Act Means Accessible Rehab
Affordable Care Act Means Accessible Rehab
How will the Affordable Care Act affect addiction treatment? For many people, it means they will be able to afford vital medical services, which includes drug or alcohol rehab.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 23 million people in the United States need addiction treatment, but today only about 2 million get it. The ACA means more people will have access to healthcare, and for some, that now means access to addiction treatment.
The Affordable Care Act takes effect in January, but people can begin signing up for insurance October 1. If you don’t have health insurance, you can get it, without fear of being excluded for pre-existing conditions. If you have health insurance, the marketplace may provide more affordable rates.
Several changes with the ACA will make addiction treatment more accessible:
- More people will have insurance, which means their insurance can pay for treatment.
- In some states, more people will be eligible for Medicaid and can get treatment through that program.
- Under the ACA, addiction treatment is considered an essential health benefit, which means more health plans must cover treatment.
- An ACA provision already in effect means children can remain on their parents’ health insurance up until age 26, which has made addiction treatment affordable to more people.
Is addiction treatment in your reach now that insurance is a possibility? For many addicts, the lack of insurance or saying they can’t afford treatment is one of their first excuses. The advent of the ACA may make treatment much easier for some people to afford. With that worry out of the way, you can think about getting healthy and getting the treatment you need.
You can sign up for the health insurance marketplace in your state beginning in October. You can learn more from HealthCare.gov.
When you know your options, call Recovery Connection at 866-812-8231. We can find a drug rehab or alcohol rehab center to get you the help you need.
