What to do when insurance refuses to pay for son’s extended stay in rehab center?
Question by Thomas: What to do when insurance refuses to pay for son’s extended stay in rehab center?
My son admitted himself to a drug rehab center for an opiate addiction that he has had for about a year and a half. His poison was oxycontin. The Counselor told me that he was a fairly serious abuser and needed help. He spent 8 days going through Detox and his insurance (Aetna) refuses to approve payment for the scheduled “normal” 4 to 6 weeks of therapy, not to mention the possibility of a stay in a half way house after wards to ease him back into a normal life. I was told by a counselor that it would have been better if he was not insured so the facility could go through the state. There are many issues to resolve with my son before he can even attempt to live a normal life, but without the rehab I’m sure he will only be heading for more trouble. 8 days of detox in the last 1 1/2 years of addiction is certainly not going to help him. What can I do?? I have talked to the facility who claims it is not there decision, it is the insurance company’s. They readily acknowledge his illness and state that he needs rehabilitation. The insurance company ignores my questions since the Hippa laws prevent them from giving me any information since my son is 20 years old and are only allowed to talk to him. He is allowed to use the phone for 10 minutes every other day, and has not been able to make any progress. Isn’t normal for the facility to have a heavy weight who deals with the insurance company and confers the patients needs and condition? The facility is trying to deal with Aetna but I feel are going to release him on Monday the 17th. Has anyone else ever been in this situation? What can I do? Is there a state agency or government agency that I can appeal to??? My son is sick and he knows it, but I need direction as to what to do next. How do you fight the insurance company? what recourse do I have? Any help would be extremely appreciated as my sons welfare is at stake.
Best answer:
Answer by Iffy
remove him from your insurance and have him apply for medicaid. You cannot force an insurance company for something not covered.
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