Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Georgia: Rehabs in GA That Take Anthem

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Georgia is an insurance company that provides health insurance to residents in the Peach State and is a trade name of Anthem Insurance Companies.⁴ Anthem is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, providing coverage through Anthem BCBS in 14 states, including Georgia.⁵ Anthem is also one of the country’s largest issuers of health benefits.⁵

The BCBS Association has 35 locally operated and independent companies to provide health coverage to millions across the country.⁶ All together, nearly 110 million people are covered by a BCBS health plan.⁶ What is more, BCBS has been serving members since 1929—they have been in the business almost 100 years.⁶

Although your specific Anthem BCBS of Georgia plan details may vary, your plan is mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to cover mental and behavioral health services in some capacity.⁷ Specifically, your plan must offer some level of coverage for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment (e.g., rehab), inpatient mental and behavioral health treatment, and behavioral health treatment.⁷ This is because mental and behavioral health services are considered to be 1 of the 10 essential health benefits that almost all U.S. health plans must cover in some capacity.⁸

Finding a treatment facility can feel overwhelming, but knowing in advance what your Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance will cover can give you peace of mind. The good news is, checking your coverage is easy. To learn about your specific coverage, fill out the form below.

Your Anthem BCBS of Georgia health plan likely has specific coverage details and limits with which you will need to adhere. Despite this, because of the ACA’s essential health benefit mandate, it is probable that your BCBS of Georgia plan may cover at least some of the cost of addiction treatment for substances like alcohol, marijuana, opioids, heroin, cocaine, crystal meth, and prescription drugs.

The specific rehab program coverage provided by your Anthem BCBS Georgia may vary. Additionally, the rehab programs that Anthem BCBS Georgia may cover may also depend on where you are receiving care and whether the rehab program is within your provider network. Some common rehab programs that BCBS Georgia may cover include:^9,10

• Detox. In detox, trained professionals supervise patients while they undergo the process of ridding their body of substances (e.g., alcohol and/or drugs), managing withdrawal symptoms as needed.
• Inpatient. For patients that need intensive care or round-the-clock supervision, inpatient programs are typically the recommended rehab program. Here, a patient will stay at a facility 24/7 for a few days to a few months, getting the medical care and support they need.
• Outpatient. For those who don’t need round-the-clock supervision, outpatient programs, where the patient attends a session or 2 each week and then returns home, are typically the recommended rehab program.
• Intensive outpatient (IOP). For more involved outpatient care, intensive outpatient programs are generally recommended. Here, a patient would attend sessions for a minimum number of hours per week (generally at least 9 hours per week) at an outpatient facility.
• Partial hospitalization (PHP). In a partial hospitalization program, a patient typically attends care for 4-8 hours a day, for multiple days a week, receiving their care at a hospital or facility.
• In general, any care received after completing rehab (e.g., ongoing care or follow-up care) is typically called aftercare.

Under the ACA’s essential health benefit mandate, Anthem in Georgia must cover treatment for mental health and dual diagnosis treatment.⁷ A dual diagnosis is a diagnosis of 2 or more co-occurring conditions.¹¹

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a co-occurring disorder is what it is called when someone is experiencing a mental health and substance use disorder simultaneously.¹¹ Each condition could negatively affect or exacerbate the other, which is why it is recommended that both conditions be treated together.^11,12

If you are experiencing a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder, you are not alone. About 9.2 million Americans have a dual diagnosis/co-occurring disorder.¹¹ According to the National Institute on Mental Health, approximately half of those experiencing an SUD will also experience a co-occurring mental disorder.¹³ This could include anxiety disorders, depression, and ADHD.¹³

Although these can commonly co-occur, it does not mean that a mental health disorder caused an SUD or vice versa. Rather, one can contribute to the other, or similar risk factors for developing one or both exist.¹³

You can take the next step and find rehabs near you that fit your needs using our search tool. Search by insurance provider, level of addiction treatment, location, and more.

1. United States Census Bureau. (2021). Quick facts, Georgia.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2022, January 12). Provisional drug overdose death counts.
3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2021). 2019-2020 National survey on drug use and health: Model-based prevalence estimates (50 states and the District of Columbia).
4. BlueCross BlueShield. (2022). BCBS® companies and licensees.
5. Anthem. (2020). Company history.
6. BlueCross BlueShield. (2022). The Blue Cross Blue Shield system.
7. Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). Mental health & substance abuse coverage.
8. Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). Essential health benefits.
9. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). TIP 45: Detoxification and substance abuse treatment. (Original work published 2006).
10. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). What is substance abuse treatment? (Original work published 2004).
11. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Mental health and substance use disorders.
12. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018, August 15). Comorbidity: Substance use and other mental disorders.
13. National Institute of Mental Health. (March 2021). Substance use and co-occurring mental disorders.