Union workers build our cities, keep them running, and deliver the goods we need to live our lives. From construction to transportation to factory jobs to utility companies, union jobs can be among the most physically and mentally demanding. Long hours, strenuous labor, and high stress can lead to substance abuse among union workers. Fortunately, union workers often have access to employee benefits that can be used towards rehab.
Navigating the process of learning how union employee benefits cover the cost of rehab can be daunting. As a union worker, you’re entitled to union-negotiated health plans. There are certain steps you can take to receive the addiction treatment you deserve. Here at Excel Behavioral Health in Dover, NJ, we provide specialized addiction treatment for union workers and help you understand your benefits while you focus on what’s truly important: getting better.
The Connection Between Union Work and Addiction Risk
Union employees often work in demanding industries that carry unique risks for substance use. Construction, manufacturing, and transportation workers, for example, have some of the highest rates of substance use in the country. Reasons for this include:
- Physical Pain: Jobs that involve manual labor or repetitively demanding tasks often lead to injuries. Workers may turn to painkillers or alcohol to manage chronic pain or recover from on-the-job accidents.
- Long Hours and Exhaustion: Fatigue from double shifts, irregular hours, or overtime can lead to substance use, such as stimulants, to push through exhaustion.
- Stressful Environments: Tight deadlines, job-site dangers, and pressure to perform at high levels make these industries inherently stressful, leading some workers to self-medicate using alcohol or drugs.
While these challenges are common, they don’t have to define your life. Seeking treatment is an empowering step that can protect your health, livelihood, and family. And through your union employee benefits, accessing addiction treatment may be easier and more affordable than you think.
What Kind of Benefits Are Available for Union Workers?
Union employees often benefit from comprehensive health plans negotiated through collective bargaining agreements. These plans frequently include coverage for physical and mental healthcare, including addiction treatment programs. Here’s a breakdown of what your benefits package might include when it comes to rehab:
- Inpatient or Outpatient Treatment Coverage
Most union health plans cover inpatient rehab, outpatient programs, or both. This flexibility can help you decide which program type works best for your needs while balancing work and home life. - Detox Services
If you need medical detox to safely navigate withdrawal symptoms, your employee benefits might cover detox services as part of your addiction treatment. - Mental Health Services
Because union workers often require dual diagnosis care for both addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or PTSD, union health plans may also cover psychiatric care and medication management. - Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
Many unions provide EAPs, which offer confidential resources to help employees address personal challenges such as addiction. EAPs can assist workers in finding treatment programs, navigating benefits, and managing the recovery process. - Extended Leave Options
Some union-negotiated contracts include paid leave or disability benefits that allow workers to take time off for rehab without sacrificing their income. These benefits can provide the financial stability needed to focus fully on recovery.
Understanding the scope of your union-negotiated health plan is key to unlocking these resources, and Excel Behavioral Health is here to help guide you through the specifics.
How Union Employee Benefits Cover the Cost of Rehab
If you’re concerned about how to pay for rehab, understanding your insurance options can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re already dealing with substance use. The good news is that accessing your union employee benefits to pay for treatment is easier than you think.
Here’s what to do:
1. Access Your Union Health Plan
Begin by locating your employee health insurance policy negotiated on your behalf by your union. Find the section detailing your behavioral health or addiction treatment benefits and see what services are covered under your plan. If you need help locating this information, reach out to your union’s human resources department or EAP.
2. Contact Your EAP (If Applicable)
Do you have access to an Employee Assistance Program through your union? These services are completely confidential and are intended to help union workers access the addiction treatment and counseling they need. Many EAPs will connect you with a treatment center like Excel Behavioral Health and walk you through how to pay for treatment while maintaining your privacy.
3. Call Excel Behavioral Health for Help
Here at Excel, we understand how difficult this process can be, which is why we offer insurance verification and consultation services. When you call us, one of our intake specialists will go over your union health insurance benefits with you to ensure you understand what is covered by your plan and what costs you should expect.
4. Schedule Treatment Around Work/School Obligations
Many union health programs are flexible. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for inpatient or outpatient treatment. If you need outpatient rehab, such as an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) or Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), you can receive treatment while still working limited hours or managing some responsibilities at home.
5. Explore Your Options for Leave/Disability Benefits
Do you need inpatient care? Depending on your union, you may qualify for paid leave or short-term disability benefits. We understand that stepping away from work to receive treatment isn’t easy. These benefits were created to financially support you while you focus on your recovery.
Should You Really Seek Treatment?
You may fear addiction treatment’s effect on your job, your family, or even your pride as a hard-working union employee. However, seeking addiction treatment is one of the most responsible decisions that you can make for yourself. Addiction affects more than just your physical health; it keeps you from staying safe on the job and providing for your family.
At Excel Behavioral Health, our structured rehab programs in Dover, NJ, offer evidence-based therapies, personalized recovery strategies, and real-life solutions for union workers. If you struggle with physical pain, work-related stress,s or chronic habits, we are here to help you where you are at.
Excel Behavioral Health: Supporting Union Workers in New Jersey
At Excel Behavioral Health, we’ve been privileged to support union workers across various industries as they take steps toward recovery. Our location in Dover, NJ, provides a convenient and structured environment for workers across Northern New Jersey.
As a trusted provider of addiction treatment, we are proud to help union members navigate their health benefits, ensuring that the cost of rehab does not hinder their recovery. From the moment you reach out, we’ll work with you to verify your insurance coverage, coordinate treatment services, and design a program that fits your work and life responsibilities.
Use Your Employee Benefits to Cover the Cost of Rehab Today
Union employee benefits may cover the cost of drug or alcohol rehab if you’re a union worker struggling with addiction. Depend on your union benefits to make rehab accessible and affordable when you need lifesaving treatment the most. Excel Behavioral Health has you covered from start to finish, including helping you understand your benefits and finishing your recovery.
Call today to find out how you can begin your journey to a healthier life with addiction treatment in Dover, NJ. You’ve worked hard for your union. Now let us work for you.