Recreate Life Counseling provides partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment for substance use and mental health in Boynton Beach, Florida. If your behavioral health benefits are managed by Magellan, this page explains how Magellan coverage for addiction treatment works, how it differs from an employee assistance program, what you can expect to pay, and how to check your benefits before you start.
Our admissions team verifies Magellan benefits for free. Network status and your exact cost depend on your plan, so we confirm both and give you a written estimate before you commit to anything.
What Magellan is, and why your card may say something else
Magellan Health is a managed health care provider that specializes in behavioral healthcare. In most cases it is not your insurance company. Your employer or health plan hires Magellan to run the behavioral health part of your benefits: the provider network, authorizations and claims for mental health and substance abuse treatment. Your medical card may carry another insurer’s name with a separate number for behavioral health.
Magellan became part of Centene in 2022, and in 2026 Centene agreed to sell its remaining Magellan businesses to Madison Health Group. A change of ownership does not change your plan’s benefits during the plan year. The rules that matter are in your own plan documents.
Does Magellan cover substance abuse treatment?
Yes. Magellan health plans cover medically necessary substance abuse treatment as part of behavioral health, alongside mental health care. Federal parity law requires the plan to cover addiction treatment on terms no stricter than medical care. Coverage typically depends on three things:
- Medical necessity, shown by a clinical assessment.
- Authorization for higher levels of care such as inpatient treatment services and partial hospitalization.
- Your plan’s network rules, covered below.
Magellan EAP sessions vs. your treatment benefit
Magellan runs employee assistance programs (EAPs) for many employers, and this is where a lot of confusion starts. An EAP and your health plan’s treatment benefit are two different things.
| Employee assistance program | Behavioral health treatment benefit | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A small number of free, confidential counseling sessions paid for by your employer | Part of your health plan that pays for ongoing treatment |
| What it covers | Short-term counseling, assessment and referral | Detox, inpatient care, PHP, IOP and outpatient therapy when medically necessary |
| Cost to you | Usually nothing | Deductible, copays and coinsurance |
An EAP is a good first call. Its counselors can assess what you are dealing with and refer you to the right level of care. Ongoing treatment such as PHP or IOP is then billed to the health plan, not to the EAP.
Inpatient and outpatient treatment coverage
Magellan coverage spans the full range of addiction recovery care. Recreate provides the outpatient levels. If you need drug and alcohol detox or a treatment center stay first, we refer you to a partner program and bring you into ours when you are ready to step down.
| Level of care | Typical Magellan coverage | At Recreate |
|---|---|---|
| Monitored drug and alcohol detox | Covered when medically necessary, with authorization | Referral to a partner detox |
| Inpatient rehab service | Covered with authorization | Referral |
| Partial hospitalization (PHP) | Covered with authorization | Yes |
| Intensive outpatient (IOP) | Covered under the outpatient addiction treatment benefit | Yes |
| Addiction counseling and therapy | Covered | Yes, as part of PHP and IOP |
| Dual-diagnosis treatment | Covered | Yes |
| Addiction treatment medications | Usually covered through the pharmacy benefit | Coordinated with prescribing providers |
| Transitional care and aftercare programs | Covered as outpatient care | Aftercare planning and alumni program |
Do treatment centers need to be in network with Magellan?
It depends on your plan type. Some Magellan-managed plans only pay in-network providers. Others also pay out-of-network providers, at a lower rate. The difference matters:
- In-network service provider: a contracted rate, lower deductibles and co-pays, and the provider handles authorization and billing.
- Out-of-network providers: higher costs, a separate deductible in many plans, and the provider can bill you above what the plan allows. Some plans pay nothing out of network.
Plans build in financial incentives to stay in network for exactly this reason. We confirm your plan’s network rules and whether Recreate is in network during the benefits check.
What you will pay, and options for uncovered costs
Your costs follow your individual plan guidelines: the deductible, co-pays per day or session, coinsurance, and your out-of-pocket maximum for the year. Service fees for the same program can vary widely between two people on different plans.
If part of treatment is not covered, these are the realistic options:
- Secondary health insurance policies, such as coverage through a spouse’s plan, can pick up what the primary plan leaves.
- Health savings and flexible spending accounts can pay deductibles and copays.
- Ask admissions about self-pay rates and payment options.
- If cost rules out private care, state and local government programs fund treatment for people who qualify. FindTreatment.gov lists them by location.
How to verify your Magellan benefits
- Have your health plan card ready, including any separate behavioral health number on it.
- Call us or complete the confidential form on this page.
- We contact Magellan to confirm active coverage, network status, deductible and copays, and authorization requirements for PHP or IOP.
- You get a written estimate before you agree to anything.
- If you move forward, we complete a clinical assessment, request authorization and schedule your start date.
Treatment at Recreate
PHP and IOP at Recreate combine individual therapy, group therapy and family therapy with evidence-based approaches: cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and trauma-focused work such as EMDR. You leave with coping mechanisms you have practiced, a relapse prevention plan, and an aftercare plan.
Recreate Life Counseling is accredited by The Joint Commission and licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Whichever program you choose, ask the same questions: is it accredited and licensed, are its therapists licensed, does it treat co-occurring mental health conditions, and will it give you a written cost estimate before you start? A program that recommends a level of care before assessing you, or quotes a fixed length of stay on the first call, is a warning sign. The right program tells you plainly what it does not treat and where it refers those cases.
Frequently asked questions
Is Magellan my insurance company? Usually not. Magellan manages the behavioral health benefits for your employer or health plan. Your medical coverage may be with a different insurer.
Can I use my EAP sessions for rehab? EAP sessions cover short-term counseling and referral. Ongoing treatment such as PHP or IOP is billed to your health plan’s behavioral health benefit.
Does Magellan cover mental health treatment without a substance use problem? Yes. Mental health care is part of the same behavioral health benefit.
Will my employer find out? No. Your employer does not see your claims. Health information is protected under HIPAA, and substance use treatment records have added protection under 42 CFR Part 2.
What if Magellan denies coverage? You can appeal. Our admissions team can explain the next step and support it with clinical documentation.
Written by: The Recreate Life Counseling Editorial Team
Published on: April 1, 2019
Updated on: October 30, 2026
