Will Insurance Cover That?

Will Insurance Cover That?

Close to 9 out of 10 Americans currently carry health insurance. That’s a pretty substantial number, but it’s actually an increase of about 1.3 percentage points from the last quarter of 2016. The increase is typically attributed to Trump administration efforts to undermine the health insurance law passed by President Obama. The numbers could be better, especially among younger adults, minorities, and people with lower incomes. Having health insurance makes life easier in many ways, but it’s not a guarantee of coverage. The private health insurance industry can be complicated, and it’s not always easy to tell what will or won’t be covered. Try not to assume anything. Instead, do your research and be prepared to advocate for yourself.

Urgent care clinics

Basic preventative care is often covered, and, depending on your insurance, you may not even have to make a co-payment to get your annual check-up. But what happens if you’re sick on the weekend, or if you’re sick and your primary care physician is booked solid for the next two weeks? In that case, many people head to an urgent care clinic. Convenience is a major benefit for people who seek out walk-in medical services in the Staten Island area and elsewhere. However, you should know that the insurance payment will likely be higher. It won’t be as high as what you’d pay in an emergency room, but walk-in visits aren’t typically categorized under the “basic care” umbrella. Be careful, too, that you don’t accidentally end up in a freestanding emergency room that looks like an urgent care center.  People think of emergency rooms as things that only exist in hospitals, but more and more of them are popping up in strip malls alongside yogurt shops and pizza places. You could end up with a significantly higher bill in that case, so make sure to at least visit the medical office’s website and try to find out how it classifies itself. If you still aren’t sure, ask them, “Is this an urgent care center or an ER?”

Detox and rehab

Addiction can easily ruin lives. Many addicts are heavily invested in the idea that they don’t actually have a problem, or if they do, it’s not that serious. That denial will only take you so far, though. Some addicts respond to an intervention by friends and family members, while other addicts have to figure it out for themselves, even if that means getting arrested on drug or alcohol charges and spending a few nights in jail. The moment someone decides to get help can be incredibly powerful, and it’s important that they start seeking treatment as soon as possible so they don’t lose their nerve. The good news is that there are plenty of facilities that accept health insurance, including First Step Detox in West Palm Beach. But it’s not a great idea to just drive to your chosen facility and assume they’ll accept your insurance. Call and ask: there’s a good chance you can talk to a trained insurance specialist who will be able to give you a quick answer once you provide some basic information. Employees who work at these facilities know that time is of the essence here, so they don’t want to waste your time any more than you want it to be wasted. If you have a friend or family member who will help you contact rehab facilities, then take them up on that offer. Don’t stop until you find a facility that can work with you and your insurance provider. The road to sobriety is long, but it’s even longer if you sabotage yourself before taking that first critical step.