Insurance says opiate withdrawal not dangerous enough for rehab!

[Peace4me]

Has anyone else been lied to by their insurance companies?  I spent three days trying to to get an answer from United Behavioral Health Insurance (a part of United Health Care) about whether my rehab would be covered.  I have been trying to detox at home since January 2nd.  I was in a car accident 4 yrs ago, and have been taking methadone, dilaudid, lortab, and xanax ever since then.  I had back surgery six months ago, and I promised my surgeon that I would detox at six months post op.  I was on very high doses of all of the meds.
On Jan 2nd I started cutting the dose in half ever other day until I was down to nothing.  That took over a week.  I had two days of no drugs under my belt when my body and brain revolted!  I realized that I needed help on the third day. I called my insurance to make sure I would be covered and they said go ahead and explained the most I would have to pay is $1000.00.  I called the in-network hospital they suggested and the hospital asked for a $3000.00 deposit because they never get paid for opiate withdrawal for people with my insurance company.  It was the weekend so I waited until Monday as the hospitals said the company was quoting me my benefits but  being able to access them  was a different story, but if I waited Monday they could get verification that the insurance intends to pay.

  I waited two more days.  

On Monday I called the hospital back and they told me again insurance companies don't pay for opiate withdrawal.  They say it is not as dangerous as say getting off the booze.  I spent three hours on the phone with my insurance company trying to get a definitive answer to whether they would pay or not.  I mean if it policy they should just tell me right?  I was at the end of my strength at that point.  I told the insurance rep the amount of methadone, morphine, and xanax I had in front of me and asked if they would pay to save my life if they found me in time to take me to the hospital instead of the morgue.  I explained that my life was worthless as a drug addict and I can not do this on my own.
  
More empty promises until the police and ambulance came to get me. I told them to take me to the in network facility so my insurance could tell the hospital they would pay and I would be set because this is what the jerk on the phone promised me.  They took me to another hospital, now I would understand taking me to the closest facillity if I had taken all of the pills; but I had only taken 3 xanax that day.  I needed something to help deal with the stress at that point.  The paramedics put me and my bag of pills in the ambulance and promised I was going to get the help I needed.  I told everyone I need help to detox because the withdrawals are making me want to give up on this life, but I know it's the withdrawals causing it.   After the hospital told me they could not really help me because they don't have a detox center and again, "Your insurance won't pay for opiate withdrawal, nobody will."  They gave me my bag of pills back and sent me out the door to walk home in my bath robe.  They knew I didn't have any family to come get me, and my husband is waiting for his back surgery.  If he misses any more work he will be fired, then I won't have any insurance.

  I called someone to look up suboxone on the internet and they gave me the phone number for a family practice doctor listed on the suboxone site.  I called from the hospital phone to see if he could squeeze me in.  Luckily, his office was close so I walked there.  Within ten minutes of walking into his office at almost 5pm on a busy day I was in a patient room talking to a very caring doctor.  He had his assistant take his pts and bounced back and forth to help her with them, so he could talk to me.  I was nervous about taking suboxone because I don't want another addiction.  He assured me he will have me completely clean in less than six months and off the suboxone too.  

By the time I got home with my prescription my withdrawal symptoms kicked into overdrive.  My poor husband wrapped me in four quilts and held me down on our bed.  Two hours later the sub had kicked in and I thought I might survive.  My husband told me he loved me very much but if I ever flip out like that on him again he would smack me.  He was joking of course.  I told him you realize that would feel like getting punched full on to me right now.  He said well then I am going to flick you in the forehead.  He got the laugh out of me he was going for.  We have been together since I was 13 yrs old, so we've been through a lot together, and learned to laugh at ourselves along the way.  

I am on my third day of suboxone, and I haven't taken any pills from the bag the hospital sent home with me.  The doc said the sub would block pain as well as help with the craving. I didn't believe him, not after taking the doses of narcs that I took and the level of pain I still suffered with.  I stand corrected.  I have not felt this level of pain relief in four years.  I feel aches and pains, but nothing to hard to take.  
I fully realize that this general practitioner saved my life on Monday.  I would have taken every pill I could have swallowed on Monday night to stop what was happening to me at that point.  I am not out of pills, I have a substantial supply from taking a little less than prescribed and hording them every month so I would never have to find out what is would be like to run out; so that would have been a big handfull or three.  I want to be clean, I don't feel like me anymore.  My kids don't remember what I'm like without the pharmacy tote going everywhere with us.  I have a 15 yr old son and a 12 yr old daughter.  I am so worried that I have taught them how to become good little addicts if they ever want to.  I didn't hide my use because it was medically necessary to function.

Anyway, sorry this is so long.  I just had to get this off my chest.  I feel cheated.  I use to take the following dose of pills daily:  90 mg of methadone,  48 mg of dilaudid,  60 mg of Lortab 10/325, and a few xanax .25's sprinkled on top.  I weaned myself down to nothing on my own, and the insurance company that is willing to pay for the pills for the rest of my life would not help me get the treatment I needed.  I am doing okay at home on the suboxone, but you and I both know there is more to recovery than withdrawal symptoms.  I mean I was ready to kill myself.  I guess if you still have enough brains left to know you need help, too bad.

  Thank you to those who have responded and sent messages asking about how I'm doing.  Without the full recovery program I expected I guess you guys and this forum are hereby nominated as my support system.

P.S.  
Anyone know if the doc was being honest about the suboxone being easy to get off of?  

[buprenex]

Yes you have found out about treatment. I was ready to drive my car at high speeds into something while deabting if I would go to the emergency room. That doctor your luck,gods speed whatever may have saved your life. I was born in Provo. I think what may have happened was your methadone stayed around for fairly long time, why okay for a couple of days. Buprenex is probalby what you need. The deal is take the least amount for the shortest time. Lookup FLADDICT on this site and e-mail her directly. She a female and spends a lot of time learning about Subutex/Suboxone ETC. She is really cool. What we need to do is make sure your not on higher doses that you need, some doctor over do it. Then get you ASAP or you will get addicted to it. Next time realize you need to seak treatment options when your not in withdrawls so that your in control. You must have been scared to death, I been there just like you where. Your in a postion to beat your addcition if you get off sub as fast as possible. Where talking days 3,4,5 maybe 10, perhaps your case would need 21 days because your where taking so much other opiates. I saying figure out the least amount and shortest time by researching it and contact FLADDICT then go to your doctor tell him you want off per your research. Ask him for other med to ease symtpoms ETC.

Wish your nightmare to end.

Sincerely Bart

[girlybuff]

I'm happy to hear that you are now on Sub but what is your next step?
How do you plan on staying clean and sober?  The physical part is not even half of the battle.