Rehab Centers That Accept Student Insurance Plans

College can be both an exciting and overwhelming time in a person’s life. While it offers new freedoms and opportunities, it can also bring intense academic pressure, social stress, and exposure to substance use. For some students, partying or managing stress leads to experimenting with drugs or alcohol. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), 35% of college students use illicit drugs instead of prescribed medication, with marijuana being the most commonly used.

The good news is that recovery is possible, and student health insurance plans can help cover the cost of treatment. This guide explains how student insurance works, where to find coverage, and how to use your benefits to access addiction treatment.

Alcohol remains the most commonly abused substance among young adults. More than 11 million people aged 18 to 25 report binge drinking within the past month, and over 7 million people between the ages of 12 and 20 say they’ve consumed alcohol in the last 30 days. Tragically, nearly 5,000 people between the ages of 15 and 24 die from drug overdoses each year.

These statistics underscore the urgent need for accessible, stigma-free addiction and mental health care for students. Student insurance plans that cover rehab services can reduce financial barriers to care. Resources like RehabNet are here to help connect students and their families with trusted treatment centers and support options.

Students can access insurance coverage through various means, including applying through their school or institution. There may also be third-party options available. If a student is under the age of 26 and claimed by their parents as a dependent, a family insurance plan usually covers drug or alcohol rehab.

Major health insurance companies offer student-specific insurance policies, often partnering with a college or university system to provide tailored health coverage and reduce the cost of treatment for limited budgets.

Some of the more commonly known student health insurance providers include:

• UnitedHealthcare Student Resources
• Anthem Student Advantage
• Aetna Student Health
• BlueCross BlueShield Student Plans
• Cigna Global Health Options (International/study abroad plans)
• Cigna Close Care (International/study abroad plans)

There may be additional health plans that are school-sponsored or available in the state in which you’re enrolled in college. You can find more information through your school’s health or student services center, or contact RehabNet. Health plans offered to eligible students must meet guidelines set by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including restrictions on annual limits, calculation of medical loss ratios, and clear communication when a policy doesn’t meet these rules.

Yes, student insurance plans cover drug rehab. Due to the ACA and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), which governs student coverage, most plans will cover a percentage of treatment costs for rehabilitation. The MHPAEA states that benefits for behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment must be equal to what’s covered for other types of treatment for medical issues, such as surgery, accident, and illness.

Standard addiction treatment services that are usually covered can include:

• Detoxification, including medical detox
• Inpatient rehab
• Step-down services, including partial hospitalization programs (PHP) and intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
• Outpatient rehab
• Individual and group therapy
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
• Aftercare and sober living

Each plan offered through your school or state must meet specific requirements set by federal and state laws, so what’s available to you may depend on what’s mandated at those levels. Within those parameters, the treatment plan you choose will determine your provider network options and where you can receive healthcare services.

Getting the proper treatment for your substance addiction is possible, but it can be complex to navigate. What you require in terms of care will depend on addiction severity, how long you’ve been addicted, and what substances you’re addicted to. The care you can receive under your insurance policy will depend heavily on what’s in-network and available in your area. If you need care from a provider not on your plan’s list, your out-of-pocket costs will be higher.

Addiction treatment services usually start with detox and managing withdrawal symptoms. This may require 24/7 medical supervision, or it may be possible to treat it on an outpatient basis with regular medical check-ins.

Severe addictions and addictions to certain substances may mean that you need to be cared for in an inpatient rehab program. Inpatient treatment provides an environment conducive to recovery. Returning to an unsupportive climate can undo the work you’ve done in rehab.

Outpatient services can be intensive, as with an IOP, but they can also be done while allowing you to still be present in everyday life.

Rehab services should include behavioral therapy and other mental health care benefits. Detoxifying removes the drugs or alcohol from your system. Mental health services like therapy or counseling help you work through the root causes of your addiction and develop coping skills to deal with triggers moving forward. MAT is used during rehab and into recovery, particularly for those with opioid or alcohol addictions.

Unfortunately, having insurance doesn’t guarantee a certain level of coverage for drug rehab. Several factors must be considered in choosing coverage, and understanding those will help you make the best choice for your addiction treatment.

In-network providers are those that have contracted with an insurance company to offer services at a set price point. In return, the insurer includes the healthcare providers in their network for members.

Out-of-network providers are outside an insurer’s coverage area due to a lack of contract, often because of a facility or provider’s location. Some insurance plans will pay a lesser portion of services received at these centers, but other policies won’t pay anything, leaving the member to find an alternate way to pay.

Pre-authorizations should be sought for certain services under specific policies. You’ll need to review your explanation of benefits (EOB) to determine your plan type, coverage, and what requires pre-approval.

Referrals from your primary care physician (PCP) may also be required before an insurance company will pay for addiction treatment. It’s essential to follow the rules outlined in your EOB to benefit from insurance coverage fully.

The length and type of treatment will determine how much insurance pays for each component. Detox services start at approximately $1,500 and last a minimum of seven days. Outpatient treatments will be less costly, while around-the-clock care at an inpatient program will be more costly. Inpatient rehab programs can last 30 days to several months.

Alternative, holistic, and luxury addiction services can all run up the total cost of rehabilitation, as insurance companies are less likely to pay for anything not medically necessary. However, assistance through scholarships, financial aid, and payment plans can help. Meeting your deductible or out-of-pocket maximums will also ensure your insurance policy pays for treatment.

Some treatment options may be helpful to your recovery, but may not be considered medically necessary by your insurance provider or healthcare professional. However, you can present a case for the medical necessity of a care component. You also have the right to appeal anything your insurance company denies.

Your school’s location will contribute to what’s available in your coverage area. Rural locations often have limited access to or fewer healthcare providers, whereas those in urban settings may have a greater variety of options. Be sure to include this factor when reviewing coverage options, as you may want to purchase a policy accordingly.

The type of insurance a student has, whether it’s through their parents or provided by the school, can significantly affect their healthcare options. Most institutions require students to have insurance, and the type of coverage can influence the costs associated with rehabilitation facilities. For instance, an out-of-state student might prefer to obtain insurance through their school instead of relying on their parents’ policy, which may not provide coverage in a different state. Additionally, international students may encounter unique challenges, including specific restrictions and insurance requirements.

Student insurance plans can cover out-of-network rehab programs, but it’s not a requirement. Because in-network treatment centers are under contract, there are numerous incentives for members to utilize these facilities.

If you have a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan, you should have some coverage for out-of-network care. These plans usually pay out a lower percentage than they would if the provider were in-network.

A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), on the other hand, typically does not cover out-of-network care unless it involves a visit to the emergency room. There may be exceptions for medically necessary services that aren’t available in your network area.

Logging into your member account, calling your insurance provider, or contacting RehabNet can help you determine if a rehab facility is in-network. Each of these options allows you to access a database of providers covered by your plan. RehabNet will verify your insurance plan and then connect you with an approved treatment center.

For some students, the more challenging part of obtaining insurance may be deciding which option is the best out of several good choices. However, for those with budgetary or mapping limitations, it may be more challenging to find a reasonable plan. RehabNet can help students find rehab facilities that accept their insurance nationwide.

University-sponsored health plans are typically partnerships between a specific institution and a single insurance provider. These plans should meet ACA requirements and can be one of the cheaper options for coverage. Know that whether you use the university’s plan or go with another insurance, you must meet any standards for coverage that the school requires.

ACA-compliant private student plans are available through the Health Insurance Marketplace. These are self-pay and can be affected by your circumstances, such as whether you’re eligible to apply on your own or need a parent’s participation, and which tax returns reduce your premium costs. Marital status can also factor into eligibility and cost.

Students who meet specific criteria may be eligible for coverage under their parents’ insurance plans until the end of the calendar year in which they turn 26 years old. You’ll need to ensure that your policy’s coverage area includes your school location and meets the enrollment insurance requirements.

Medicaid may be an option for students with lower incomes who aren’t eligible for other coverage or when other insurance costs exceed their budget.

Location and plan type will significantly influence the cost of your policy and treatment. Group plans may offer higher discounts upfront but have larger deductibles and limited access to providers. Individual or private plans may offer better provider options, but they come at a higher monthly cost. It’s ultimately up to you to weigh your options and determine what’s going to work best for you and your loved ones when it comes to choosing insurance coverage for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.

Student insurance plans should cover most types of substance addiction, although the levels of benefits will vary depending on your plan type. There may not be a facility in your area that treats your addiction type, in which case a service like RehabNet can help you find a treatment provider.

SUDs covered under student insurance plans may include:

• Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
• Opioid Use Disorder
• Cannabis Use Disorder
• Addiction to stimulants like cocaine, Adderall, and methamphetamines
• Benzodiazepine addiction
• Prescription drug misuse

Another consideration in seeking substance abuse treatment is co-occurring mental health conditions. Suppose your healthcare provider says you have anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or another mental health problem in addition to a SUD. In that case, that’s a dual diagnosis, and it’s pretty standard. Addiction often happens because a person has a mental health disorder or develops one due to addictive behaviors.

The highest priority is getting the help you need for all components of your addiction. Building a community that includes a trusted healthcare team and supportive individuals can significantly impact achieving successful rehabilitation outcomes.

There are multiple ways to locate rehab centers that will accept student insurance. Your school should have resources that can connect you with addiction treatment, whether that’s through an on-campus health clinic or counseling center. They should be able to provide you with a list of in-network options.

Alternatively, you can log in to the member portal for your insurance company or call their customer service line, which should be listed on the back of your insurance card. Use RehabNet’s database to search for treatment programs by zip code, insurance type, and treatment level.

Even if you find a rehab listed under covered facilities, you should still call that facility directly to verify that they accept your insurance plan. Sometimes, a facility will accept your insurance, but your company doesn’t consider them to be in-network. Verifying on both sides before enrolling can save you a headache in the long run.

Find rehab with student insurance by using RehabNet’s database or calling our helpline. RehabNet offers college rehabilitation support through a confidential, free directory that allows you to filter results to meet your specific needs. Our representatives are trained professionals ready to assist you in getting help today.