The two major steps to overcoming substance abuse are accepting that you have a problem and taking measures to receive the right treatment to overcome your addiction.
If you’re still on the fence about going to rehab, you need to consider the effect addiction is having on your work. For instance, you might find yourself skipping work because of a hangover or being too high. When you do make it, concentrating on your duties might be hard for the same reasons. Alternatively, going to work while high or drunk might result in accidents, injuries, and losses for you, your coworkers, and your employer. Left unchecked, your addiction could cost you your job.
Instead of trying to hide your addiction, it’s best to come clean with your employer. There is no shame in admitting you have a substance abuse problem and taking time off from work to go deal with the addiction.
Common Concerns about Receiving Treatment
When considering drug and alcohol addiction treatment, you’ll have to deal with some important issues namely- how will going to rehab affect your job and how will you pay for rehab treatment?
The good news is that there are laws in place to help protect your job should you take time off for addiction treatment. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) which we have covered in previous blog posts, supports both alcohol and drug addiction treatment. Under this law, you have the right to up to 3 months of unpaid job-protected leave during a 12-month period, for specific health reasons. During that time, you’ll still have access to health insurance and other medical benefits from your employer.
When it comes to paying for your substance abuse treatment, your union insurance can make your care more affordable. This insurance is a valuable resource as health insurance companies are nowadays required to provide coverage for addiction treatment. This means that you can start your journey toward recovery without worrying about paying out of pocket for treatment.
Kentucky Addiction Treatment Centers and Union Insurance
Labor unions in Kentucky advocate for drug-free workplaces. They also support drug and alcohol rehab and for good reason. A worker whose judgment and ability to carry out their duties is impaired thanks to using drugs is a danger not only to himself but also to his coworkers.
Most unions have policies in place to assist employees battling substance abuse and they also offer insurance benefits to enable such employees to get treatment easily without meeting the costs themselves. Rehabs in Kentucky like the Robert Alexander Addiction Treatment Center work directly with labor unions to make addiction treatment more affordable and accessible to workers who need it most. They also run programs to help the unions identify possible signs of substance abuse in employees in order to catch addiction in the early stages when treatment is most effective.
Using Union Insurance at a Rehab Treatment Center in Kentucky
Before seeking treatment at a rehab, it’s advisable to have a discussion with your union representative to get as much information about your union insurance policy as you can.
Insurance policies differ in what they cover so it’s better to know the terms of your insurance before you sign up for treatment. For instance, some policies may limit how and where you receive treatment. They may also insist that you see specific healthcare providers in a network as well as stipulate the time limits, type of treatment, and level of care available to you under the insurance coverage.
Some of the things to confirm include:
- Whether the insurance policy covers addiction-related prescription medicines. Individuals with certain types of addictions might require medication to detox or get through withdrawal symptoms.
- Whether counseling or therapy sessions associated with addiction treatment are covered under the union insurance and if so, for how long.
- Whether the coverage includes 100% of all your treatment costs. It might be on a copay or deductible basis and if this is the case, you need to be aware of how much your copay or deductible is. This will help you determine how much of the costs you’re going to meet yourself.
Once these have been confirmed, you can move on to using your union insurance. When signing up for any of the treatment programs at the Robert Alexander Center, you need to bring along your union insurance identification card. This card contains information on the type of coverage you have as well as your group or policy number. We will enter this information into your personal treatment file, which helps us keep tabs on your treatment, the costs, and anything else related to your recovery journey.
Treatment Services Covered by Union Insurance
The most common addiction treatment services covered by union insurance include:
- Medically-supervised detox. When weaning yourself off drugs or alcohol, you might need detox to get these harmful toxins from your system. This process can produce unpleasant and sometimes serious withdrawal symptoms so it’s important to have medical supervision to ensure it goes well.
- Treatment counseling and therapy. Counseling is the cornerstone of addiction treatment programs. There are different types including family, group, or individual counseling, all of which are conducted by trained counselors or therapists.
- Aftercare services. After being discharged, those recovering from addiction need assistance to remain sober. Aftercare services including sober living programs are designed to provide support and accountability to keep recovering addicts from relapsing.
Take Steps to Change Your Life Today
If you’re battling addiction, the road to recovery might seem long and hard. One of the barriers to receiving treatment is the cost of rehab. However, most treatment centers in Kentucky accept union insurance making addiction treatment both accessible and affordable for you.
Call the Robert Alexander Center for Recovery today to learn what your union insurance covers, how you can use it to get treatment as well as the types of treatment services we offer. We look forward to helping you turn your life around.
