Outpatient Drug & Alcohol Rehabs in Virginia

One of Virginia’s biggest public health problems is opioid addiction. In 2014, for the first time in Virginia’s history, more people died from opioid overdoses than car accidents. In 2013, fatal drug overdoses became the number one cause of unnatural death in Virginia.¹

There is also evidence that the dangerous synthetic opioid carfentanil is available in Virginia. This opiate is usually used to sedate large animals like elephants. The fact that it has made its way into Virginia presents a serious health risk to the public.¹

• Opiate-related deaths more than doubled from 2007 to 2016 in Virginia. They jumped from 515 in 2007 to 1,133 in 2016.²
• Data from 2014-2015 show that 10.7% of all adolescents ages 12-17 used alcohol in the last month.³
• Between 2011-2015, the majority, or more than 51%, of adults in Virginia with mental illness, did not receive treatment within the past year.³
• The number of people receiving methadone as part of an opioid treatment program increased from 4,799 in 2011 to 5,735 in 2015.³
• Nearly 60% of all adolescents ages 12-17 with a major depressive episode did not receive treatment within the past year, according to data from 2011-2015.³

The cost of treatment is dependent on a number of factors, including:

• How long you plan to stay.
• The type of program (public, private, executive, or luxury).
• The amenities offered (e.g., some programs offer benefits like equine therapy, chef-prepared meals, massage, and more).
• Whether the program takes insurance and how much is covered.
• Whether the program offers sliding scale payments, meaning whether they will adjust to the cost to your income/what you can afford.

In 2015, there were 230 substance abuse treatment facilities in Virginia offering a variety of substance abuse treatment options, including outpatient, inpatient, detoxification, and residential treatment. The treatment ranges from short term, which is less than 30 days, to long-term residential treatment that lasts 30 days, 60 days, 90 days or more.⁴ Twenty-seven VA facilities provide opioid treatment.⁴

The payment options for substance abuse treatment range from self-pay to federal military insurance. Options are available for people that cannot afford to pay.⁴

• Alcoholics Anonymous: Tells users where to find Virginia Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
• Road to Recovery: Gives addiction resources for residents of Northern Shenandoah Valley.
• Sink or Swim: Offers information and resources for individuals and families located in Virginia that are impacted by drug use.
  VaAware: Offers a variety of addiction, prevention, and recovery resources for Virginia residents.
• Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services: Substance Abuse Services: Provides substance use and abuse resources. The website also offers guidance on how to get help for addictions.

Insurance Providers

Learn more about some addiction treatment insurance providers:

• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Cigna
• Aetna
• Ambetter
• Kaiser Permanente
• Humana
• UnitedHealthcare

Helpful Treatment Resources

• Marijuana Addiction Treatment
• Intensive Outpatient Programs

1. Gov: Governor Terry McAuliffe. (2016). Opioid Addiction Crisis Declared a Public Health Emergency in Virginia.
2. (2017). Addiction, Prevention & Recovery Resources.
3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2017). Behavioral Health Barometer, Virginia, Volume 4.
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2015). National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS): 2015 State Profile – Virginia.

Blue Cross Blue Shield: Virginia Insurance for Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers

If you live in Virginia and are battling a substance use disorder, drug or alcohol rehab can help. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in addition to stopping drug abuse, the goal of addiction treatment is to return people to productive functioning within their family, workplace, and community.¹

Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance has two offerings throughout Virginia: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virginia and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield.² If you are insured by either of these companies, your health insurance benefits may cover all or part of addiction treatment services such as inpatient care, outpatient care, detox, therapy/counseling, and medications.

Does BCBS Cover Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment in VA?

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virginia plans are offered across a range of price levels and include bronze, silver, and gold plans.³ CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield plans are similar, offered at silver, gold, and catastrophic levels through HMO and PPO plans.⁴ 

Under these plans, you may be responsible for costs such as your deductible, copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum.

The Affordable Care Act requires that health insurance plans include mental health, behavioral health, and substance abuse services.⁵ The best way to find out your exact coverage level for drug and alcohol addiction treatment is to verify your benefits. You can do this by:

• Contacting Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virginia.
• Contacting CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield.