It’s never easy to review your health insurance policy, and that’s why most people only look at their deductibles, premiums, and co-pays. They assume their policy will cover basic doctor visits, unexpected medical emergencies, and urgent care visits.

That usually happens in most cases, but interestingly, health insurance plans often include hidden provisions that cover specialized physical devices as well as mental health support. Here’s what your policy may cover, but you may not be aware of it.

Substance Use Disorder and Behavioral Health

Mental health and addiction therapies are important health benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Despite this mandate, people often assume comprehensive addiction care requires entirely out-of-pocket payments.

That’s not true, and you may find it simply by reviewing your policy in detail. For instance, check your UnitedHealthcare insurance coverage for rehab treatment and you will notice that it covers you for a range of behavioral services.

Depending on the specifics of your program, your network, and your medical requirements, you may be entitled to receive treatment as a medical detox. Detox offers medical supervision and monitoring during extreme cases of withdrawal. 

You may even have coverage that enables you to receive treatment at a rehabilitation center where 24/7 services are provided for people suffering from drug abuse disorder. Some policies may also include Intensive Outpatient Programs, Partial Hospitalization Programs, and standard outpatient individual therapy, which is vital for those who prefer to stay at home during treatment.

However, in most cases, your total out-of-pocket costs will vary depending on your co-pays, deductibles, and whether the facility is in-network. The good thing is that admissions teams at most rehab centers can verify your benefits for you with no obligation.

Alternative Pain Management and Chiropractic Care

Alternative practices such as spinal manipulations and acupuncture were not covered under any insurance plans for a long time, since they were considered optional expenses.

However, some of the bigger names in insurance now acknowledge these techniques as successful, non-invasive remedies for managing pain. It means if you have lower back pain, stiff joints, or frequent migraine attacks, you may want to check your policy details, as there’s a high chance you’re covered for these conditions.

Even if your plan covers it, you must still check for visit limits. Most companies cap alternative therapies at a specific number of appointments per year. In some cases, it’s also mandatory to get a formal referral from your primary care physician to prove you really need therapy.

Preventive Medical Equipment and Devices

Most people are under the impression that insurance plans only cover standard doctor appointments and hospital stays. They don’t realize that their plan may actually pay for physical medical devices to improve their health at home. That’s mainly because insurance companies believe that using these devices lowers the risks of falls and other accidents that would be more expensive to manage.

However, it’s not a good idea to buy medical equipment online or from a standard retail store. The reason is that insurance companies often require you to order these devices through their specific, in-network Durable Medical Equipment suppliers. Therefore, you should take a moment, call the customer service, and request a list of approved vendors before placing your order.

Endnote

You must treat your health insurance as a powerful financial tool and learn how to use it to improve the quality of your life. Be sure to review your policy properly and verify coverage to see how it reduces your out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.