Is Valium Rehab Covered By Insurance?
February 22, 2023
When it comes to financing Valium rehab, one option you may want to consider is using insurance. Navigating the world of insurance can be overwhelming, but this guide aims to help you understand how health insurance can help cover the cost of rehab.
First of all, let’s find out what this drug does, why it’s addictive, and why rehab is necessary.
What is Valium?
Valium is a brand name for the drug diazepam, which is a type of benzodiazepine. These drugs are often prescribed to help with anxiety, insomnia, and muscle spasms. While the drug can be helpful in the short term, it can be dangerous if misused or taken for an extended period of time. Long-term use can lead to addiction, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms.
How does it become addictive?
This drug works by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA. GABA is a molecule present in the brain that regulates activity in your nervous system. By increasing GABA activity, Valium helps to calm the nervous system and reduce feelings of anxiety. Specifically, it has the following effects:
Sedation- Anxiolysis
- Muscle relaxation
- Anticonvulsant
- Amnesic
At first, this can feel great. You may feel more relaxed and less anxious. However, over time, your brain can become accustomed to the presence of the drug. It may start to reduce the number of GABA receptors in a process called downregulation. As a result, your brain may become less sensitive to the effects of diazepam. You may need to take more of the drug to achieve the same effects as when you first took the drug. At this point, your body has developed a tolerance for the drug.
As your brain becomes less sensitive to the drug, you may also start to experience withdrawal symptoms when you don’t take the drug. These can include anxiety, agitation, insomnia, and seizures. This can create a cycle of dependence, where you feel like you need to take the drug just to feel normal.
What are the withdrawal symptoms?
If you’ve been taking diazepam for an extended period of time, you may have noticed that your body has become accustomed to the presence of the drug. This can happen with any medication that is taken for an extended period of time, and it’s called tolerance.
When you start to reduce your dose of Valium or stop taking it altogether, your body may experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can vary in severity depending on how long you’ve been taking the drug and how much you’ve been taking.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of Valium withdrawal:
- Anxiety: This can be one of the most stressful withdrawal symptoms. You may feel more anxious than usual, or you may experience panic attacks.
- Insomnia: Difficulty sleeping is another common withdrawal symptom. Either you find it hard to fall asleep or you cannot stay asleep for a sustained period.
- Tremors: You may experience trembling or shaking in your hands or other parts of your body.
- Sweating: Some people experience excessive sweating during withdrawal.
- Nausea: You may feel sick to your stomach or even vomit.
- Headaches: You may experience headaches or migraines during withdrawal.
- Seizures: In some cases, Valium withdrawal can lead to seizures, especially if you’ve been taking high doses of the drug for a long time.
It’s important to note that withdrawal symptoms can be different for each person, it’s not uncommon for people to experience withdrawal symptoms that are not listed here.
It’s also worth mentioning that withdrawal from benzos can be dangerous and should always be done under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Rapid withdrawal or stopping the medication abruptly, can lead to seizures and other serious complications.
How can insurance help with drug rehab?
Now that we understand a bit more about why rehab is necessary, let’s talk about how insurance can help. Most insurance plans, including private insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare, cover some or all of the cost of addiction treatment. However, coverage can vary depending on the specific plan. It’s a good idea to know what your plan covers first.
One way to find out what your insurance plan covers is to call a representative of your insurance company and ask about addiction treatment. They should be able to tell you what services are covered and how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket. They may also be able to tell you which rehab facilities in your area accept your insurance.
Another thing to consider is that some insurance plans have what’s called an “out-of-network” benefit. This means that while the plan may not have a contract with a specific rehab facility, they will still cover a portion of the cost if you choose to go to that facility. This can be a great option if there aren’t any in-network facilities that meet your specific needs. Take note that you have to pay more out of pocket for this arrangement, though.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some insurance plans require pre-authorization for certain types of treatment. This means that the insurance company needs to approve the treatment before it’s covered. Approval can take some time, so it’s important to get started as soon as possible.
It’s also important to note that while insurance can help cover the cost of rehab, it may not cover all of it. You may still be responsible for paying a portion of the cost out of pocket. This is where things like sliding scale fees and payment plans come in. Many rehab facilities offer these options to make treatment more affordable for those who need it.
In conclusion, financing Valium rehab can be a daunting task, but insurance can be a helpful resource. It’s important to know what your insurance plan covers and to understand the different options available to you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and reach out for help.
Overall, your goal is to get the treatment you need to overcome addiction and regain control of your life.