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United Healthcare Substance Abuse Treatment Insurance Coverage

On this page, you will learn about UnitedHealthcare health insurance coverage for substance abuse treatment and how to confirm what benefits are available under your specific plan.
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United Healthcare Provider Overview

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is one of the largest health insurance companies, serving tens of millions of customers worldwide.1 You may be wondering, ‘does UnitedHealthcare cover rehab?’ If you or a loved one has UnitedHealthcare insurance and you are wondering how to pay for drug or alcohol rehabilitation treatment, you can read the information below to learn about how addiction recovery programs are covered under UHC plans. While specifics vary from plan to plan, this page will help you understand what you may be able to expect when it comes to substance abuse coverage with UnitedHealthcare.

This page is intended to be a general overview of how UnitedHealthcare covers addiction and mental health services, not a comprehensive guide on the subject. For specific questions about your plan and UnitedHealthcare substance abuse coverage at American Addiction Centers’ facilities, call for free at . You can speak to a UnitedHealthcare representative directly and learn about how to pay for rehab.

UHC Coverage Levels and Plans

About UnitedHealthcare Insurance

The main types of policies UnitedHealthcare insurance offers are:

  • Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans. These plans were developed after the ACA was passed. Since an employer makes no contributions with these plans, monthly premiums tend to be higher than those of standard healthcare plans. Premiums are set based on your income and the number of people in your household.2
  • Group benefit plans. These plans are provided through your employer.3
  • Government assistance plans. These include Medicare (mostly available for seniors) and Medicaid (mostly for low-income families and individuals). UHC allows Medicare and Medicaid customers to choose plans that provide additional coverage above the minimum.4

UnitedHealthcare Insurance Plans

UnitedHealthcare plans fit into two categories:3

  • Open access plans. These plans typically restrict your coverage to treatment facilities that contract directly with UnitedHealthcare. There are two plans in this category:
    • UnitedHealthcare Choice, which only covers physicians and treatment facilities within the UHC network.
    • UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus, which covers providers outside the network; however, you will pay more out-of-pocket if you take this route.
  • Preferred Provider Organization (PPO):
    • The UnitedHealthcare PPO plan does not restrict you to providers within the network. If you choose out-of-network care, it will need to be approved beforehand and you will have to seek reimbursement from UHC afterward. Costs for these services will be greater than choosing UnitedHealthcare in-network facilities.

UHC Rehab Treatment Coverage

Does UnitedHealthcare Cover Drug and Alcohol Rehab Treatment?

All the plans listed above provide coverage for substance abuse and behavioral health treatment. Rehabilitation services are primarily provided through:

Does UnitedHealthcare Insurance Cover Inpatient Rehabilitation?

UnitedHealthcare drug rehab or alcohol abuse treatment providers offer coverage for inpatient addiction treatment (this may exclude certain short-term insurance plans). The level of coverage or plans available may change depending on:

  • The state of residence.
  • The employer.
  • Whether your family members are included in the plan.

Medication may be used to help a person manage withdrawal symptoms, cravings and co-occurring disorders. Some UHC plans may require a separate deductible for medications used during treatment. After the deductible is met, there is a copayment for each prescription.

The copay for medications varies widely depending on the type of medication and the UHC plan you have. Prescriptions obtained outside the network are not covered.5

Does UnitedHealthcare Insurance Cover Outpatient Rehabilitation?

UnitedHealthcare also provides coverage for outpatient drug and alcohol treatment. The specifics of your UnitedHealthcare rehab coverage will vary. There is no coinsurance for other outpatient services.

Out-of-network outpatient treatment or prescription medication is not covered.6

Learn more about inpatient vs. outpatient treatment.

Does UnitedHealthcare Insurance Cover Mental Health Treatment?

Substance misuse, behavioral health and mental health are categorized together with UnitedHealthcare insurance plans. An inpatient stay or outpatient treatment period for behavioral health or mental health reasons has the same level of coverage as treatment in an addiction center.5, 6

Check My UHC Drug Rehab Coverage

How to Check My UnitedHealthcare Substance Abuse Treatment Insurance Coverage

There are a few different ways to check your UnitedHealthcare rehab coverage:

  • Login to the MyUHC benefits portal. Creating an account requires your:7
    • Member ID number and group policy number or your social security number (SSN) and zip code.
  • Check the benefits packet you were given by your employer when you selected an insurance plan.
  • Call customer service:8
    • Medicaid members: Use the number on your insurance card or login to the UHC community plan site.

In most cases, UnitedHealthcare insurance provides coverage for substance abuse treatment and mental health services. Just be sure you choose a facility that is within the UHC network or that your plan allows you to use out-of-network facilities.

To find out if your insurance plan covers treatment at an American Addiction Centers (AAC) facility, you can reach out to an admissions navigator for free at . You can also use the “Verify Your Insurance” portal.

Additional Resources

Insurance Providers With Addiction Coverage

Related Resources

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