Recreate Life Counseling provides partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment for substance use and mental health in Boynton Beach, Florida. If you are a federal employee, retiree or family member with a GEHA medical plan, this page explains what GEHA covers for addiction treatment, how your plan option affects your cost, and how to check your benefits before you start.
Our admissions team verifies GEHA benefits for free. Network status depends on your plan, so we confirm it during the benefits check and give you a written estimate before you commit to anything.
Does GEHA cover addiction treatment?
Yes. GEHA offers medical plans through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, and every FEHB plan covers mental health and substance use disorder treatment. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 also applies: your plan cannot set stricter limits or higher cost sharing on addiction treatment than it sets on comparable medical care.
Coverage depends on medical necessity. A clinical assessment has to show that the level of care fits your needs, and some levels of care need pre-authorization before they start.
GEHA medical plan options
GEHA offers five FEHB medical plans: High, Standard, Elevate, Elevate Plus and a high deductible health plan (HDHP). In most states, all of them use the UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus provider network, which is one of the largest national networks.
| Plan option | What it means for treatment |
|---|---|
| GEHA High | The richest benefits and lowest cost sharing in network. Out-of-network care is covered at a lower level. |
| GEHA Standard | Lower premium than High, with higher copayments and coinsurance. |
| Elevate and Elevate Plus | Lower-premium plans built around the network. Check how your option treats out-of-network care before you choose a program. |
| GEHA HDHP | You pay the full allowed amount until you meet the deductible, then coinsurance applies. An HSA can help cover the cost. |
Plan details change each year at FEHB Open Season, so your current plan brochure is the final word on cost sharing and exclusions.
Levels and types of care covered
GEHA covers the full range of addiction and mental health care when it is medically necessary. Recreate provides the outpatient levels. If you need medical detoxification or inpatient rehab first, our admissions team refers you to a partner program and brings you into ours when you are ready to step down.
| Level of care | Typical GEHA coverage | At Recreate |
|---|---|---|
| Medical detoxification and safe withdrawal management | Covered when medically necessary | Referral to a partner program |
| Inpatient rehab and residential treatment | Covered with pre-authorization | Referral |
| Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) | Covered, usually with pre-authorization | Yes |
| Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) | Covered | Yes |
| Outpatient therapy and behavioral therapy and counseling | Covered | Yes, as part of PHP and IOP |
| Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) | Covered, with medications through the pharmacy benefit | Coordinated with prescribing providers |
| Aftercare and support groups | Ongoing outpatient therapy is covered | Aftercare planning and alumni support |
Therapies and specialized treatment
What happens inside a program matters as much as the level of care. At Recreate, treatment is built on evidence-based therapies:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to change the thoughts and habits behind substance use
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for managing intense emotions and cravings
- Trauma therapy, because unresolved trauma drives a lot of substance use
- Group therapy and peer support, which build accountability and connection
- Family therapy, so the people at home are part of recovery
Holistic services such as yoga, mindfulness and nutritional guidance can support this work, but they work best as a complement to clinical care, not a replacement for it.
Mental health and dual diagnosis support
Addiction rarely shows up alone. Anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder and personality disorders often sit alongside it. GEHA covers co-occurring disorder treatment under the same behavioral health benefit, so dual diagnosis care does not need a separate approval.
Our dual diagnosis program uses an integrated treatment model: one team treats both the substance use and the mental health condition at the same time, with counseling, CBT and DBT, and medication management coordinated with your prescriber. People with bipolar disorder start with us once symptoms are stable enough for outpatient care. Acute episodes need hospital care first.
Long-term recovery and relapse prevention
Treatment is the start of recovery, not the end of it. Before you finish PHP or IOP, you build a relapse prevention plan covering your triggers, coping skills and who you will call. Relapse prevention training continues through step-down care, and our aftercare programs connect you to ongoing outpatient therapy, support groups and life skills development. GEHA covers ongoing outpatient care, which makes a sustainable recovery approach easier to keep up after discharge.
What you will pay with GEHA
Your out-of-pocket expenses depend on your plan option and on whether the program is an in-network provider:
- Deductibles: what you pay each year before the plan pays. HDHP deductibles are the highest.
- Copayments and coinsurance: a flat fee per visit or day, or a percentage of the allowed amount.
- Out-of-network provider costs: higher coinsurance, and the provider may bill you above the plan’s allowance.
- Yearly cap: the catastrophic out-of-pocket maximum limits what you pay in a calendar year for covered care.
Exact amounts change every year, so we do not list them here. Our benefits check turns your plan’s numbers into a written estimate for the program we recommend. If any part of care is not covered, ask admissions about financial assistance and payment options.
How to verify your GEHA benefits
- Have your GEHA card ready and know which plan option you are enrolled in.
- Call us or complete the confidential insurance verification form on this page.
- We contact GEHA to confirm active coverage, network status, the behavioral health portion of your benefits, your deductible and cost sharing, and any pre-authorization needed.
- You get a written estimate of your financial responsibilities before you agree to anything.
- If you move forward, we complete the clinical assessment, request authorization and schedule your start date. That is the whole admissions process.
You can also read your plan’s policy details yourself in the GEHA plan brochure, which works as your summary of benefits and coverage, or call the number on your card.
Choosing a program that accepts GEHA
- Accreditation. Recreate Life Counseling is accredited by The Joint Commission and licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families.
- Trauma-informed care from licensed clinicians, with a plan for co-occurring conditions.
- The right level of care, recommended after an assessment, not before.
- A written estimate before you start.
Frequently asked questions
Does GEHA cover rehab in Florida if I live in another state? Yes. GEHA’s network is national, and FEHB plans cover care across the United States.
Does GEHA require pre-authorization for PHP? Usually. We request it before your first day.
Does GEHA cover mental health treatment without a substance use problem? Yes. PHP and IOP for depression, anxiety and trauma are covered under the same benefit.
Will my agency find out? No. Claims go to GEHA, not your agency. Records are protected by HIPAA, and substance use treatment records have added protection under 42 CFR Part 2.
What if GEHA denies my treatment? You can appeal through GEHA, and FEHB members can ask the Office of Personnel Management to review a denial afterward. Our admissions team can explain the next step.
Written by: The Recreate Life Counseling Editorial Team
Published on: March 31, 2019
Updated on: October 30, 2026
