1(800) 615-1067The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, has changed addiction treatment coverage by requiring that all health insurance plans offered through the ACA marketplace cover substance use disorder treatment as an essential health benefit. This means that insurance companies cannot deny coverage for addiction treatment or charge higher premiums based on pre-existing conditions related to addiction.
Under the ACA, addiction treatment must be covered at the same level as other medical and surgical treatments. This includes coverage for detoxification, outpatient and inpatient treatment, and medications used to treat substance use disorders.
Additionally, the ACA expanded Medicaid to cover more low-income individuals, which has increased access to addiction treatment for those who may not have been able to afford it previously.
Overall, the ACA has helped to make addiction treatment more accessible and affordable for many individuals who previously faced barriers to receiving the care they needed.