Fork - Medicare

Substance abuse and addiction affects every race, age and gender. For drug addicted people 65 years or older, Medicare may be an option to pay for some if not all of their drug rehabilitation. Medicare insurance may cover the treatment of alcoholism and drug abuse in both outpatient and inpatient settings, as long as a few key points are addressed. The addict must obtain treatment from a Medicare-participating facility or provider. The drug addicted person's doctor notes that the services requested are medically necessary and that the patient's doctor provides a specific recommended treatment plan. Additionally, Medicare will only cover a total of 190 days in a mental health hospital for the individual's entire lifetime.