Alcohol Rehab and Substance Abuse Care

Treatments such as alcohol rehabilitation centers (“rehab”) and substance abuse care are part of the category of insurance benefits known as substance use disorder treatment. Care for those with substance use disorder may include a combination of treatments such as the ones listed below:

• Individual & group counseling
• Inpatient treatment
• Prescription medication (e.g. methadone)
• Recovery support services
• Peer support networks

Substance use disorder benefits are not required of large group association health plans but they may be included if the association chooses. Early research on association health plans launched under the new Department of Labor regulation found a trend toward broad benefit health coverage. If substance use disorder benefits are included within the plan design then those benefits must have financial requirements and treatment limitations that are “no more restrictive than those placed on medical and surgical benefits.” The regulation governing large group health plans on this matter is the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA).

Examples of substance use disorder treatment that may be provided in an individual or group setting include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Contingency management
• Motivational enhancement therapy
• “12-step program” (e.g. Alcoholics Anonymous)

Substance abuse disorder care, sometimes referred to as “rehab,” can be quite expensive. In 2009, the government reported the average cost of inpatient treatment was $235 per day.