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As an employee with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), you may hesitate to seek help due to fears of losing your job, stigma, and being ostracized by the community. However, seeking treatment is an important step towards full recovery. OUD is a medical condition that needs to be treated with care and compassion. Some employers have realized this and provide their employees with Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).

At Nirvana Recovery, we aim to educate our readers on various benefits that can help them seek treatment. This article aims to provide readers with a comprehensive guide on Cigna Healthcare’s Employee Assistance Program.

Why EAPs Are Important for Opioid Addiction Support

While most healthcare decisions we make are reactive, Employee Assistance Programs offer a proactive and confidential way of dealing with issues before they spiral out of control. EAPs offer employees a vital way of fighting against opioid addiction in the workplace. It offers a helping hand before you can seek admission into a rehabilitation program. Similarly, it can be used after rehabilitation to ensure you remain committed to your recovery journey.

EAPs offer early intervention and quick access to healthcare services. Most EAP benefits include several therapy sessions with a therapist. Such a program offers a stigma-free environment where you can talk about your issues without fear of judgment or retaliation. As the first point of call, EAPs allow employees to receive short-term therapy before being admitted to an opioid rehabilitation facility.

In addition to offering support to the family, EAP benefits extend to the employee’s family. They can be used by family members to help them deal with stressful situations that arise from your opioid addiction.

Overview of Cigna’s EAP Benefits

If you are part of an organization that has purchased Cigna’s Employee Assistance Program, you may receive various benefits. Cigna’s EAP is one of the most comprehensive covers in the United States. It not only covers you as an employee, but also everyone in your household. All you need to prove is your relationship with them and that you live in the same household. Cigna’s EAP is designed with confidentiality in mind. It will offer you and your family various resources with no cost to you.

Key Features of Cigna’s EAP

As an employee under Cigna’s EAP scheme, you may receive the following services:

Emotional and Mental Health Support

EAPs can offer valuable support for emotional and mental health issues. Most employers think that an employee can separate their work and home lives. However, that is not usually the case. Problems at home can spill over into the work environment as you struggle to manage your mental health. Employee Assistance Programs are beneficial since they help employees develop coping mechanisms to deal with opioid addiction, stress, and anxiety.

If you are feeling overwhelmed at work, you may get a referral to a licensed therapist who will provide short-term counselling before you are admitted to an opioid rehabilitation facility. These services can offer clarity of mind and guide you on your next steps. They can also help you find your shortcomings that may be impacting your home life. Short-term counselling can help improve your home life by equipping you with conflict resolution and active coping mechanisms.

Legal and Financial Services

Cigna’s EAP consists of a variety of law firms throughout the country. To be accepted into Cigna’s network, an attorney needs to be duly licensed to practice by their local bar. Cigna’s EAP services will allow you to receive no-cost consultations and even a discount on your legal fees should you pursue a claim. It is important to note that you may not pursue a legal claim against your employer under the EAP, as employment-related matters are excluded from Cigna’s plan.

Strong legal representation can help you navigate complex matters such as identity theft, real estate transactions, and family law matters. As an employee with OUD, you may find yourself in the midst of a complex matter that requires strong legal representation.

Cigna’s EAP can also connect you with financial experts if you happen to find yourself in a financial fix. They can help you budget and even get out of debt. As an individual with OUD, you may need financial assistance to help you stay afloat.

Career and Workplace Support

Workplace stress can be a contributing factor to your opioid use. As a result, it is crucial that you receive career and workplace support. Since opioid use can lead to termination of employment, it is important to be guided on your next steps. EAP counselling can help you navigate the challenges associated with applying for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. To many, the FMLA offers valuable job protection as they seek rehabilitation for opioid use.

Home Life Referrals

Cigna’s EAP may assist you in getting referrals for child care, senior care, and home renovations. It has valuable resources available to all of its members. These referrals are made in a bid to improve an employee’s life.

Confidentiality and Privacy Protections

Cigna’s EAP is confidential. Its providers cannot gain access to any of your counsellor’s notes or treatment records. While your employer may be informed of general information surrounding the service, they may not be granted access to any of your confidential information. Imagine talking to your therapist about how stressful your work is, only for your employer to be informed about your lamentations. This is a huge privacy violation that is not allowed under Cigna’s EAP.

Cigna EAP Benefits for Opioid Rehab in Arizona

As an EAP plan member, you are eligible for a number of benefits relating to rehabilitation. Cigna’s EAP is flexible and allows members to receive more than just workplace support. The following are covered services under Cigna’s EAP plan:

Covered Services Under EAP for Opioid Rehab

If you have opioid use disorder, and you want to get admitted into a rehabilitation center, Cigna’s EAP can help cover the following services:

Assessment and evaluation: Before you can be admitted into a rehabilitation program, you need a thorough assessment and evaluation. This evaluation will assist medical health providers to tailor a treatment plan for you. It will assess your character, opioid use, and determine which course of treatment will work best for you. Cigna’s EAP can help cover these costs through referral to qualified therapists and counsellors.
Short-term counseling for addiction-related issues: Addiction comes with its own fair share of challenges. If your employer has purchased Cigna’s EAP, you can receive short-term counselling services before being enrolled in a rehabilitation facility. These services can also be used after treatment as aftercare services. They can help you address the challenges associated with transitioning back to work.
Referral to inpatient or outpatient opioid rehab programs: Short-term counselling is not the best way to treat your opioid addiction. EAP counsellors can evaluate your progress and refer you to other facilities offering long-term outpatient and inpatient treatment. These services are better suited to help you recover from addiction.

How EAP Works With Cigna Health Insurance

Cigna’s EAP works well alongside its health insurance. Together, these services assist employees in cutting the costs of opioid treatment. The following are some ways that these policies work together:

Cost: EAP services offer short-term counselling services for employees with opioid addiction. These services are already covered and will be at no cost to you. If you are admitted into a rehab facility, your health insurance will kick in and cover the costs of rehabilitation. This is subject to deductibles, copays, and the premiums paid.
Privacy: Both EAP and health insurance services are confidential and private. Your employer will never access your private records or know why you were in rehab. EAP is separate from insurance claims and remains confidential at all times. Cigna’s health insurance is subject to HIPAA and is also private and confidential.
Access: Cigna’s EAP is accessible to employees 24/7 with a dedicated hotline. You can easily receive EAP-covered services at any time and without any referral. All you need to do is fill out the required forms. Cigna’s health insurance may require you to prove provider network access and plan details before you can receive your benefits.
Scope: EAP has a limited scope as it is a short-term solution. While it offers a variety of services, all of them are capped at certain limits. EAP covers emotional health and substance use counselling. Cigna’s health insurance will cover diagnoses and inpatient or outpatient care.

Limits and Exclusions

While Cigna’s EAP covers a variety of services, it has its limitations and exclusions. These limitations and exclusions include the following:

Short-term counselling only: EAP covers short-term counselling only. Typically, Cigna’s EAP covers up to ten (10) counselling or therapy sessions per issue. This means that you may only receive 10 therapy sessions for your opioid use disorder.
EAP does not cover work-related legal issues: If you have any work-related legal issues, your EAP will not cover them. Since the EAP is sponsored by the employer, it usually excludes covering any work-related legal issues.
No prescriptions or medical treatment: EAP does not cover medical treatment or prescriptions. Services like diagnosis and prescriptions fall under your medical insurance scheme.
Limited financial advisory services: Financial advisory services covered under EAP are very limited. In-network financial experts will not offer direct financial assistance but will only advise you on what you are required to do.
Crisis support is triage-based: EAP services do not cover emergency crisis management. They usually require referrals and may not provide support during an emergency.
Experimental treatment is excluded: Treatments that are deemed experimental or not medically necessary are not covered.

How to Access Cigna EAP Benefits for Opioid Rehab

Step 1 - Confirm EAP Eligibility

The first step of receiving your benefits is to confirm your eligibility. First, confirm whether your employer has purchased a Cigna EAP. You can do this by checking with your employer or contacting Cigna’s inquiry team. Once you find that you are eligible, you can begin gathering the information required for EAP services. This information typically includes the following:

Authorization letter
Authorization number
Effective date of the EAP and its expiry date
The name of your employer or sponsor
Your Member ID, if it is different from the employer’s ID

Step 2 - Contact the EAP Confidentially

With the information you have gathered, you can contact Cigna’s EAP through Headway. You can also contact them through the available phone numbers on their website.

Step 3 - Complete the Assessment Process

During your initial contact with Cigna’s team, they will try to understand your concerns and connect you with the relevant professionals. For example, if you need financial advice, they will connect you with their in-network financial experts. In the case of opioid use, they will provide you with the relevant information to connect you with licensed clinicians and therapists. Remember that you can only see clinicians and therapists, not psychiatrists or registered nurse practitioners.

Step 4 - Get Connected to Treatment

Once you have all the relevant information, you can be connected to practitioners who can provide short-term counselling for your opioid use. Cigna’s EAP services will connect you with the most relevant professionals who can actually help.

Step 5 - Coordinate EAP and Health Insurance

Cigna’s EAP also coordinates EAP and health insurance to help you receive the best service. While EAP offers short-term services, it cannot be used indefinitely. As a result, you may need to receive long-term care from rehabilitation facilities like Nirvana Recovery. These facilities can provide inpatient and outpatient opioid rehabilitation to ensure full recovery. They also offer aftercare services that can help you transition back to work.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Many people are often skeptical of employee assistance programs. They worry that their employer will spy on them or receive confidential information. However, privacy should not be of any concern. EAP services are confidential and private. Your employer will not get a whiff of what you discuss with your clinician or therapist. Other challenges that you may need to overcome include the following:

Not Knowing You Have EAP Benefits

Many employees do not know they have EAP benefits. As a result, they struggle with their emotional and behavioral health while in the workplace. You should always inquire about your current benefits during the duration of your employment. Read and understand your employee handbook and any policies approved by the employer. Doing this will help you stay aware of your benefits and how you can utilize them as needed.

Confusion Between EAP and Health Insurance

Another common confusion present in the workplace is that EAP and health insurance are the same. However, that is not the case. EAPs do not cover medical treatment and only offer temporary support for emotional and behavioral health. They do not extend to medical care.

Myths About EAP Benefits for Opioid Rehab

There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding employer-sponsored EAP benefits. Some of them include:

EAPs Are Just for Emergencies

Many employees believe that EAPs are for emergencies only. However, the reality is that EAPs are designed to be early intervention tools. As a matter of fact, some EAPs have a triage-based crisis process. This means that they do not offer emergency services during a crisis. As an employee, you should take advantage of your EAP benefits before your addiction reaches a critical point. EAP service providers can help you get back on track and connect you wth relevant rehabilitation facilities.

Everyone Gets a Fixed Number of Sessions

EAP policies usually state that they offer services up to a certain point. However, this is a general guideline. EAP services are assessed based on your needs and risk level. It would be absurd to cap your entitlements to a certain number of sessions if you are in crisis. Your clinician’s judgment will inform the number of sessions you may attend.

Employees Know How to Use EAPs

Many employees do not know how to use EAP benefits. They are actually unaware that they have EAP benefits, leading to underutilization of these services. As an employee, educate yourself on the benefits you are entitled to at your current place of work.

EAPs Replace Medical Treatment

EAPs cannot be used to replace medical treatment. They offer temporary services and can connect you to appropriate medical providers. EAPs are only a short-term solution to your opioid use issues.

Using EAP Services Could Jeopardize Your Job

Using your EAP will not jeopardize your career. Seeking help will not trigger disciplinary action against you. EAPs are designed to improve work-life balance and increase employee productivity. If an employer disciplines people for seeking help, then what was the point of purchasing an EAP scheme?

Get Confidential Support for Opioid Rehab With Nirvana Recovery

As an employee, you should take advantage of Cigna’s EAP. It offers short-term critical support for employees with opioid use disorder. EAP benefits do not jeopardize your job, as whatever you say will remain private and confidential. Cigna’s EAP offers a wide range of services for employees with OUD, including low to no-cost legal consultation, emotional and behavioral health therapy, and financial advisory services.

At Nirvana Recovery, we provide valuable insights on EAP benefits for employees with OUD. We also offer inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs for those who are ready to take the next step towards recovery. Our qualified team of experts will walk with you throughout your recovery journey.

If you are ready to take the next step towards recovery, contact our team at Norvana Recovery today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many free counseling sessions do I get with Cigna’s EAP?

Employees covered under Cigna’s EAP are entitled to up to 10 free therapy and counseling sessions per issue.

Can EAP benefits cover detox and medication-assisted treatment?

No, EAP benefits do not cover detox and medication-assisted treatment. EAP is reserved for emotional and behavioral health therapy and does not extend to medical interventions.

Can I use EAP and health insurance at the same time?

Yes, EAP services offer short-term counselling sessions for emotional and behavioral health. On the other hand, health insurance will cover the medical treatment costs, including outpatient and inpatient care.

Is EAP available to part-time employees?

Yes, Cigna’s EAP is available to part-time employees. Part-time employees receive the same benefits as full-time members.

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EAP Benefits With Cigna for Opioid Rehab in Arizona