Drug & Alcohol Rehab Covered by United Healthcare

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.

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

• Inpatient treatment
• Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs)
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOPS)
• Outpatient treatment

Does UnitedHealthcare Insurance Cover Inpatient Rehabilitation?

UnitedHealthcare drug rehab or alcohol rehab providers offer coverage for inpatient addiction treatment (this may exclude certain short-term insurance plans). Patients reside at the facility during inpatient treatment and their length of stay may vary. For example, they may choose a 28- or 30-day program or a more long-term 60-day or 90-day inpatient program.

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.

Additionally, 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?

Outpatient rehab is the least intensive option of addiction treatment, requiring patients to attend a facility for a few hours several days a week. UnitedHealthcare 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

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

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

In most cases, UnitedHealthcare insurance provides coverage for addiction 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.

If you considering getting treatment at an American Addiction Centers’ facility but are unsure if your United Healthcare insurance coverage will be accepted, use our online verification tool to have your insurance verified right now. We also invite you to call us at to connect with an admissions navigator who can help you through the process.

• Ambetter Insurance
• Aetna Insurance Coverage
• Humana Health Insurance
• Cigna Insurance
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Kaiser Permanente
• Veterans’ Insurance

Related Resources

• Types of Treatment Programs
• Faith-Based Rehab Centers
• Holistic Rehab Centers
• Couples’ Rehab Centers
• Seniors’ Rehab Centers
• Private Rehab Centers
• Executive Rehab Centers
• Luxury Rehab Centers
• State-Funded Rehab Centers
• Free Rehab Centers
• Drug Abuse Hotline Numbers
• Alcohol Abuse Hotline Numbers

1. UnitedHealthcare. (2020). About UnitedHealthcare.
2. HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). The ‘metal’ categories: bronze, silver, gold & platinum.
3. UnitedHealthcare. (2020). Group benefit plans.
4. UnitedHealthcare. (2019). Coverage choices.
5. UnitedHealthcare. (2020). Summary of benefits and coverage: what this plan covers & what you pay for covered services.
6. UnitedHealthcare. (2020). Summary of benefits and coverage: what this plan covers & what you pay for covered services.
7. UnitedHealthcare. (n.d.). Let’s get you registered.
8. UnitedHealthcare. (2019). Contact us.