Rehabs That Accept CareFirst Insurance

Updated Aug 1, 2024

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Plan Types

CareFirst is a BlueCross BlueShield company that serves Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia.¹ Through its various plans, CareFirst gives members access to 1.8 million healthcare providers.²

If you or a loved one struggle with substance use or addiction, your CareFirst insurance plan may be able to help pay for all or at least some of the costs of rehab.

Types of CareFirst Healthcare Plans

CareFirst offers a variety of insurance plans. There are individual plans offered through the insurance marketplace, group plans offered through employers, and Medicaid and Medicare plans, too.²

If you’re self-employed or don’t have coverage through your employer, you can purchase individual and family plans through the insurance marketplace. These plans include essential health benefits, including mental health and substance use coverage.³

Additionally, within each of these CareFirst individual and family plans, there are different levels, which vary by territory:

CareFirst in Maryland offers bronze, silver, gold, and catastrophic insurance to cover prescriptions, preventative care, vaccinations, and hospital and emergency services. The bronze, silver, and gold levels have at least one HMO and PPO plan option—each with varying deductibles and monthly costs.⁴

CareFirst Plans in Washington, D.C., offer bronze, silver, gold, platinum, and catastrophic insurance plans that cover prescription medications, vision exams, dental and vision coverage, preventative care, vaccinations, and hospital and emergency services. Bronze, silver, gold, and platinum plans each have HMO and PPO options—each with varying deductibles, monthly costs, and coverage:⁵

The HMO plans offer some flexibility, in-network doctor visits, and out-of-network coverage for emergency medical services.
The PPO plans have the most flexibility, access to over 45,000 PPO network local providers, and access to thousands of PPO network national providers.

CareFirst Plans in northern Virginia offer silver, gold, and catastrophic plans that cover prescription drugs, vision exams, dental and vision coverage, preventative care, vaccinations, and hospital and emergency services. Silver and gold levels have HMO and PPO plans with varying deductibles, monthly costs, and coverage specifics:⁶

The HMO plans offer some flexibility, in-network doctor visits, and out-of-network coverage only for emergency medical services.
The PPO plans have the most flexibility, access to 47,000 PPO network local providers, and access to thousands of PPO network national providers.

CareFirst also offers Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans to individuals aged 65 and older and younger people with certain conditions.⁷

Additionally, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Community Health Plan provides health coverage for Medicaid recipients in Maryland. Coverage includes hospital services, nursing home and home healthcare, X-rays and lab work, transportation for medical care, and pediatrician visits.⁸

Coverage

Does CareFirst Insurance Cover Drug and Alcohol Rehab?

Every CareFirst insurance plan provides free behavioral health and addiction support—without a clinical diagnosis or referral. This Behavioral Health Digital Resource lets you chat with trained listeners and join a supportive community with moderated discussion boards and chat rooms, receive behavioral health assessments, and engage with care managers.⁹

Additionally, CareFirst offers a 24/7 hotline at 800.245.7013, where you can receive clinical counseling and access to information about substance use disorder treatment 24/7.⁹

Members can access the provider network to find other treatment services covered by individual medical plans, which provides real-time provider availability and shows the cost-sharing up front.⁹

CareFirst plans offer different coverage options. Thus, it’s important to verify your insurance before you begin substance use treatment. As previously mentioned, all self-funded plans—and some group insurance plans (it varies by state)—are required to offer essential health benefits, which include mental health and addiction treatment.¹⁰

In Maryland, for instance, individual, small group, and large group insurance plans provide benefits for outpatient and inpatient substance use treatment.¹⁰

The District of Columbia follows similar state-required benefits, mandating that individual, small group, large group, and HMO plans cover “drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and mental illness.”¹⁰

And in Virginia, the state requires that individual and group insurance plans provide coverage for mental health and substance use services.¹⁰

However, just because the state requires coverage doesn’t mean every aspect of your treatment will be completely covered. Call the number on the back of your card to understand the specifics of your plan.

What Addiction Treatment Does CareFirst Cover?

Many of the dozens of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield plans cover at least some portion of substance use treatment. Depending on your benefits, costs for eligible treatment services may be waived. CareFirst helps connect you with providers within addiction recovery centers, where you can get personalized treatment in an appropriate care setting.¹⁰ This may include:^11,12

Detox. Medically managed detoxification allows substances to leave your system safely and as comfortably as possible. This is often the first step in a more comprehensive treatment plan.
Residential treatment. Residential treatment, sometimes referred to as inpatient treatment, means that you live at the facility full-time so you can focus on your recovery away from potential triggers and stressors.
Outpatient treatment. For some, outpatient care follows residential treatment. Others may begin treatment in an outpatient setting, which provides varying levels of intensity—depending on the program—but allows you to live at home or in a sober living environment while participating in counseling and therapy sessions at scheduled times.
Medication for addiction treatment. Medication for addiction treatment can be helpful for those with an alcohol use disorder or an opioid use disorder. Healthcare providers may prescribe these medications to help ease withdrawal symptoms and manage cravings associated with these disorders.

Which of these services your plan covers depends on the specifics of your insurance plan and your doctor’s recommendations. Thus, making an appointment with your primary care physician is an important first step to getting the care you need.

How to Check Your CareFirst Insurance Benefits

You can contact the insurance company directly by calling the number on the back of your insurance card. You can also log in to your account using the CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield website to see coverage information and find providers in your plan’s network.

Another option is to contact American Addiction Centers at , by text, or via chat. Our knowledgeable and compassionate admissions navigators are available 24/7 to review your insurance plan and explain your treatment options.

Does CareFirst Cover Mental Health and Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment?

Integrated treatment of co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders is the standard of care for individuals struggling with substance use and mental health disorders—such as anxiety disorders, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Integrated treatment, which involves treating the disorders simultaneously, provides the best chances for long-term recovery.¹³

As previously mentioned, every CareFirst member has access to providers, resources, and a support team made up of registered nurses and licensed behavioral health clinicians, who can help you find the right provider, coordinate your care with your doctors, connect you with support groups, and more.¹⁴

Additionally, if your plan covers essential health benefits, mental health and substance use disorder services—including behavioral health treatment services such as counseling and psychotherapy—are covered.¹⁵ But double check with the insurance company or one of our admissions navigators to understand the specifics of your coverage.

Using CareFirst Insurance at American Addiction Centers

AAC operates several top-notch treatment centers throughout the country. Depending on your plan, you may be in-network with one of our addiction treatment facilities. For example, AAC has outpatient and inpatient treatment centers in the Northeast—AdCare Treatment Hospital and AdCare Outpatient Facility in Massachusetts and AdCare Rhode Island and AdCare Outpatient Facility also in Rhode Island—all offering high-quality care for a variety of substance use and mental health concerns.

Provider Overview

About CareFirst

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, a not-for-profit healthcare organization, has served the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and northern Virginia areas for over 85 years. They serve 3.5 million members in the mid-Atlantic region and employ 9,000 people. The company focuses its efforts on making health insurance affordable and easy to access.²

Next Steps

Check Your CareFirst Insurance Coverage

If you’re ready to break free from the cycle of addiction, AAC can help. Start the admissions process by calling AAC at 24/7 to discuss your options. Our admissions navigators will listen to your needs, answer your questions, explain your options, and verify your insurance coverage.

Sources

CareFirst. (n.d.). Service area map.
CareFirst. (n.d.). Company overview.
CareFirst. (n.d.). Individual and family health insurance plans.
CareFirst. (n.d.). Individual & Family Health Plans in Maryland.
CareFirst. (n.d.). Individual & Family Health Insurance Plans in Washington, D.C.
CareFirst. (n.d.). Individual & Family Health Insurance Plans in Virginia.
CareFirst. (n.d.). Medicare Plans.
CareFirst. (n.d.). Medicaid Plans.
CMS.gov. (2024). Information on Essential Health Benefits (EHB) Benchmark Plans.
CareFirst. (n.d.). Substance Use Recovery.
FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). Treatment options.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020, July). Drugs, brains, and behavior: The science of addiction — Treatment and recovery.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020, April). What are the treatments for comorbid substance use disorder and mental health conditions?
CareFirst. (n.d.). Behavioral Health & Addiction.
Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). What Marketplace health insurance plans cover.

Rehabs That May Accept CareFirst Insurance

American Addiction Centers (AAC) owns and operates facilities at various locations nationwide to provide you or your loved one addiction and mental health care.

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About The Contributor

Anna Spooner

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