United Healthcare

United Healthcare, or UHC, is a great option when choosing an insurance to use to cover the cost of treatment. At New Directions, we are in-network with United Healthcare, so we are able to utilize their plans to the fullest extent.

Payment Options for Treatment

There are many options when deciding how to pay for rehab. There are scholarships and grants are available to those seeking treatment. There are also free options that do not require any type of payment. The two most common options though are paying out of pocket and going through an insurance policy. 

Paying out of pocket is very simple. It just means that the client, or loved ones of the client, pays for the entire cost of treatment. Paying out of pocket is always an option, but it can be very expensive. This is especially true for treatments that require the client to stay within the facility.

New Directions understands that paying out of pocket is not a viable option for everyone. That is why we have developed contracts with insurance companies to allow our clients to go through their policies. By using insurance to cover some of the cost, more individuals are able to receive the length and intensity of care they need.

Choosing the Right Policy

If you do decide to go through insurance to pay for treatment, there are some things to consider. Some individuals will already be on a policy before starting treatment. They are able to contact their provider to see what type of coverage they would receive and if they work with our center. If the benefits aren’t as great or they are out of network, it may be time to switch companies.

Choosing the right policy is extremely important and can be an overwhelming task. It can mean paying for hardly any of the treatment received to paying for a large sum of it out of pocket, even while being under insurance. 

United Healthcare Facts

UHC was founded in the late 1970s in Minneapolis, MN, and has since made its way to over 21 different countries around the world. United Health Care is a recognized leader in the healthcare industry. It operates with OptumHealth under the UnitedHealth Group which is the single largest health carrier in the US. UHC’s nationwide network includes over 760,000 physicians and health care professionals that serve its members.

It serves over 45 million policyholders worldwide and was also voted #1 for five years in a row on Forbes’ “World’s Most Admired Companies” list. Because of this, it is recognized as one of the most well-known insurance companies around the world.

Other UHC Benefits

When choosing an insurance policy, it is important to look at all of the benefits offered. UHC gives its policyholders a wide variety of plans and options to choose from. A lot of their plans allow customers to receive routine checkups at physicians’ offices. This includes yearly dental checkups, as well.

The plans encourage policyholders to put an emphasis on their health. They do this by offering health benefits like free gym memberships and fitness plans on their website. The plans also can cover a large amount if not the full cost of prescriptions and vision work. 

In-Network vs. Out-of-Network Policy

There is a huge difference between in-network policies and out-of-network policies when it comes to treatment. The main difference is the amount of coverage they offer. Knowing the difference between the two could determine whether a client is able to afford treatment or not.

In-network companies are ones that have partnered with us at New Directions. In-network companies, like UHC, are able to cover much more of the cost of the treatments we offer because of our contracts with them.

Out-of-network companies are ones that are not affiliated with our center. They are still able to cover some of the cost of treatment but not to the extent that in-network companies can. Because of this, we recommend using one of our in-network providers to help with the cost of treatment.

Our staff at New Directions will provide you a detailed plan that includes the coverage possibilities. We work directly with each company, so there will be no open ends or questions. Our mission is to provide you with the maximum amount of coverage to ease the burden of paying for treatment. 

How We Review Your Policy

Insurance is not more affordable than ever, and each company has done an incredible job of adding mental health and substance abuse coverage. Our staff at New Directions will work with your UHC representative to understand what treatments are covered under your plan. 

An independent review of your UHC coverage will determine: 

• What programs and treatments can be covered
• The length of stay that will be approved
• If inpatient or outpatient treatment is covered

Once the policy is reviewed, an exact amount can be created of what each client will pay out-of-pocket and what is covered. Each policy will be different, so our independent review will give a more detailed plan.

Coverage for Substance Abuse Treatment

The out-of-pocket cost for substance abuse treatment can be extremely high in some cases. Some levels of care will cost less than others, but our staff does not want the cost of treatment to hinder those who truly need it. This is why an insurance plan can be helpful to those needing our services. 

The coverage you’re able to receive will be determined by what policy you’re currently under. Because they are an established insurance company, most UHC plans offer coverage for substance abuse treatment.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Treatment Coverage

Once admitted into our program at New Directions, our staff will complete an initial evaluation. This will help us understand what level of treatment will be needed to effectively combat the addiction at hand. We will then place individuals in an inpatient or outpatient program that will most likely give them the best results. 

The biggest difference between inpatient and outpatient treatments is the level of care they each provide. Inpatient treatment includes staying at our facilities and 24/7 care from our staff. Outpatient treatment is a more relaxed plan for those who have mild addictions and can live at home while receiving treatment.

The intensity of treatment will affect the cost. Because inpatient requires more time and attention from our staff, it will be more expensive. Depending on the plan, most UHC policies cover a large portion if not the entirety of inpatient treatments. They also offer a level of coverage of outpatient treatments. The amount will be determined during the initial stages of admittance. 

Medical Detox Coverage

Medical detoxification is often needed when starting the treatment process at New Directions. It allows the client to safely and effectively be weaned off the substance they were abusing. In order to complete this process, different techniques and therapies will be needed. 

Medical detox can immensely add to the cost of treatment depending on the length and intensity of therapies needed. Depending on the severity it can take days, weeks or sometimes even months to complete detox. Because of this, insurance coverage can be essential to certain individuals.

Certain detoxes, like alcohol and benzo detoxes, will be completely covered by your UHC plan. If others are needed, our team will work with your representative to understand how much of the process can be covered.