GEHA Health Plans Heroin Detox Coverage
Heroin is highly addictive because of the fast, intense high. Since users develop a tolerance to heroin, users often need to take increasingly greater amounts of the drug in order to experience the same effects. Over time, users may even need to use heroin to feel normal at all. Nearly one out of every four individuals who try heroin becomes addicted, and seeking drug use with heroin becomes their main goal in life, according to the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA). Since heroin slows and sometimes stops breathing, it is possible to die from heroin use. If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin abuse, GEHA health plans heroin detox coverage may help cover the cost for some or part of the treatment program.
GEHA Health Plans Heroin Detox Coverage: What to Expect
If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin addiction, the first step is a drug detox program. Dealing with heroin withdrawal symptoms can be difficult. Like other opioid drugs, heroin withdrawal symptoms can include abdominal cramping, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, and a lack of energy/motivation. Since heroin creates an intense “feel good” sensation, heroin withdrawal causes the opposite feelings: agitation, anxiety, and feelings of depression. Quitting cold turkey can be difficult and even dangerous. While there is no such thing as “painless detox”, medically supervised treatment helps to make the process easier and safer for you or your loved one.
Depending on the your specific GEHA health plan, costs associated with heroin detox treatment will vary based on whether you have coinsurance, copayments or a deductible. Drug detox programs may be offered as part of hospitalization or an inpatient treatment program. Once the detox program is complete, the next step is continued treatment with either an inpatient care program of 28, 60 or 90 days, or an outpatient treatment program. When choosing between these treatment options, another important consideration is whether dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring disorders is necessary. Dual diagnosis treatment can help if you or your loved one is also experiencing anxiety, depression or another mental health condition that would benefit from treatment.
As you consider the different heroin detox treatment options, you may have questions about the different types of care and your GEHA insurance coverage. A trained advisor can help answer these questions so you can confidently select the right treatment program for your needs.