Does Health Insurance Cover Drug & Alcohol Detox?

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance misuse or addiction, you may wonder if your insurance covers treatment options like detox. The good news is that, yes, insurance often covers detox, at least in some part, as substance use disorder (SUD) treatment is an essential benefit under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).¹

Your exact coverage will vary depending on your insurance plan, medical necessity, and the detox setting, such as inpatient or outpatient care.^1,2,3 Call American Addiction Centers (AAC) at to speak with an admissions navigator, explore your detox options, and verify your insurance for free.

What Is Medical Detox?

Medical detox involves a set of interventions designed to manage acute intoxication and withdrawal from drugs or alcohol.⁴ While not everyone will need medical detox, it can be important for people who use certain substances (e.g., alcohol or benzodiazepines) that can cause dangerous and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Medical detox provides medical support and supervision, and medications (as needed) to minimize withdrawal symptoms and help keep you as comfortable and safe as possible.⁴ This can help you become medically stable and pave the way for further treatment.⁴

Insurance Coverage for Medical Detox

Does insurance cover detox? In general, yes, but as mentioned above, the specifics of your coverage can vary depending on your insurance plan and other factors, so it’s a good idea to speak with your insurance carrier to verify your benefits.

Factors that can affect coverage include:

• The type of insurance plan you have (e.g., HMO, PPO, EPO, or other plan).⁵
• Whether detox is deemed medically necessary by a doctor or insurance provider.^2,6
• Whether you use an in-network or out-of-network provider.⁵
• State regulations, which can vary for Medicaid and Medicare.³

Medical detox covered by insurance can involve various interventions, such as:

• Assessment and medical evaluations, which examine your unique situation and help determine the appropriate care for your needs.⁴
• Supervised withdrawal management.⁴
• Medications for withdrawal symptoms.³
• Support to help you enter ongoing treatment.⁴

Which Types of Detox Programs are Covered by Insurance?

There are different types of medical detox. The appropriate setting can vary depending on your needs. Certain types of interventions may not be covered by insurance, such as for concerns deemed non-life-threatening.³

Insurance may cover detox in different settings, such as:

• Inpatient detox, which means that you live onsite at a detox center for the duration of your withdrawal period. This can take place in different settings, such as freestanding detox centers or inpatient units of psychiatric hospitals.⁴
• Outpatient detox, which means you live at home but travel to a detox center to receive withdrawal management services. This can take place in a variety of settings, such as a freestanding detox clinic or a doctor’s office.⁴

How to Use Insurance Coverage for Medical Detox

The process of using your insurance coverage for detox and rehab care may seem daunting, but it doesn’t need to be. You can follow these simple steps to get started:

• Verify your benefits: You can call your insurance carrier or use an online verification tool.
• Get a professional assessment: A medical evaluation is the first step in determining your detox needs.⁴
• Choose an in-network provider: This helps maximize coverage and lower out-of-pocket costs.³
• Obtain preauthorization (if required): Some plans require prior approval for coverage.³
• Begin treatment: Insurance coverage kicks in based on the approved treatment plan.

Please call us at to speak to an admissions navigator, who can help verify your insurance and assist you in finding detox covered by insurance.

Medicare Coverage for Drug or Alcohol Detox

Medicare is the federal government’s healthcare program for people 65 and older or those with certain eligible disabilities.⁷ Medicare covers certain types of care for substance use disorder, such as screenings, services, and programs that can help people in recovery.⁸

Different parts of Medicare cover different components of treatment, including:⁸

• Medicare Part A: Covers inpatient hospital stays, including medically necessary detox.
• Medicare Part B: Covers outpatient services like doctor visits and counseling.
• Medicare Part D: Covers medications for withdrawal symptoms.
• Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C): May offer additional coverage for detox programs.

Medicaid Coverage for Drug or Alcohol Detox

Medicaid is a joint state and federal health insurance program for certain people who have low incomes and families who meet state-specific requirements.⁹ As states administer their own programs, eligibility requirements and specific types of coverage can vary depending on where you live.⁹

Medicaid may cover certain services and treatments for substance use disorder (SUD), which can include:

• Inpatient and outpatient detox programs (varies by state).^10,11,12
• Medications for withdrawal symptoms (such as buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone, and others).¹⁰
• Counseling and follow-up care.¹⁰

Be aware that there may be coverage limitations, as some states may restrict the number of covered treatment days.¹³

Start the Recovery Journey

If you or a loved one are struggling, you should know that quality evidence-based treatment can help.² American Addiction Centers (AAC) is a leading addiction treatment provider and offers medical detox services at the following treatment facilities:

• Greenhouse Treatment Center in Grand Prairie, Texas.
• Laguna Treatment Center in Laguna Beach, California.
• Oxford Treatment Center in Etta, Mississippi.
• River Oaks Treatment Center in Riverview, Florida.
• AdCare Rhode Island in Worcester, Massachusetts.
• Desert Hope Treatment Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Recovery First Treatment Center in Hollywood, Florida.

In addition to detox, our treatment facilities also offer a variety of levels of care, including:

• Inpatient rehab.
• Residential rehab.
• Outpatient addiction treatment programs.
• Intensive outpatient addiction treatment programs.
• Partial hospitalization rehab programs.
• Sober living.
• Rehab aftercare.

No matter how things might seem right now, you are not alone. If you’re wondering, does insurance cover medical detox, we can help. Please call us at to learn more about detox and treatment, discuss your unique needs, and learn more about using health insurance to pay for rehab.