Standing for the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme, JSIS is a health insurance programme for individuals within the European Union (EU).
When an individual is covered by JSIS, they are able to be covered for a number of different health issues and services, including medical expenses, hospitalisation, necessary doctor visits, and other necessary healthcare requirements.
JSIS typically only covers individuals who work for the EU (including staff, officials, and dependents) so individuals should ensure that they fall in this category before they begin any specific form of addiction treatment.
This article will cover JSIS, the different features of this type of care, as well as the limitations of this, as well as how it may be beneficial for individuals struggling with addiction – also referred to as a substance use disorder.
Most healthcare insurance – including JSIS – will have different levels of coverage depending on the specific plan that the individual chooses within these different insurance providers.
For example, addiction treatment (including stays within rehab centres – non-hospital based) can be covered through JSIS (1), but individuals must check that this is directly stated in their specific insurance plan as different levels of care may not provide this coverage.
Under JSIS, addiction treatment within a dedicated rehab centre can be covered for up to 6 months within any 12-month period.
However, individuals must also ensure that the provider of their care is JSIS-approved and pre-authorised before the individual begins their chosen addiction treatment.
The specific rehabs accepting JSIS Health insurance, rather frustratingly, keep changing, and so we’ve since decided not to list the specific rehabs that do, because this is subject to change.
Please contact our helpline on 0800 140 4690 for the full list of rehabs currently accepting payment via JSIS Health insurance.
As mentioned above, the type of coverage that an individual has through JSIS will dictate which treatments (for addiction or other issue) are available to the individual.
However, through JSIS an individual may be able to access the following treatments, both of which can be essential during an individual’s rehabilitation journey:
In most cases, JSIS follows the following procedures and policies in regard to reimbursement to an individual during their insurance coverage process:
Specific queries and circumstances should be brought to the attention of JSIS directly, as they will be able to give the best possible advice depending on an individual’s unique needs and requirements of care.
In general, the authorisation process for JSIS is as follows.
First, an individual should gain a referral from their doctor or local general practitioner (GP), including a doctor’s report and an assessment of their dependence on the substance(s) that they are addicted to.
Then, an individual can contact JSIS with a prior request form. This is found on their website through JSIS online, but may also be completed on paper, though this may take additional time and delay rehabilitative care.
As a final step, the individual should then ensure that they have set up a direct billing option so that they are not surprised by any unexpected bills or costs while they are actively undergoing their rehabilitative treatment.
The approval and application process may differ depending on different circumstances, so individuals should always contact JSIS healthcare providers directly in specific circumstances.
As JSIS itself offers upwards of 80% reimbursement to individuals, there may not always be a need for additional coverage, but this is all at the individual’s discretion.
In the event that an individual does need additional coverage and support, members of EU staff should opt for additional coverage from other European-based or international healthcare insurance providers to make up the difference and provide additional financial support.
For individuals who are not members of the EU officials or staff team, there are many other options that may be suitable in different circumstances.
For example, within the UK most individuals have access to the National Health Service (NHS) which provides free healthcare and sources of treatment for people all over the country.
However, addiction treatment is often limited through the NHS, meaning that many people will not be eligible or ‘suitable’ for residential rehab through these means. In many cases this is because rehab centres are often not available through the NHS due to the differing costs associated with these services.
In addition, individuals may also face lengthy waiting lists and delays to care through the NHS due to the high volume of patients that are already taking advantage of these services.
Most local communities will offer some form of rehabilitation, however, and many of these may be accessed through the individual’s local doctors’ office or GP’s surgery and will be far more convenient for the individual than some treatments that may be further afield.
In any case of requiring additional support for addiction, finding healthcare insurance, and any other query relating to addiction, individuals should get in touch with Rehab 4 Addiction to find out more.
Our dedicated referral service employs friendly and professional staff to answer any queries and offer free and confidential advice to any individual who requires it.
Whether an individual considers their needs to be high or low, every individual should feel comfortable in contacting our 24/7 addiction hotline on 0800 140 4690 today.
[1] Allianz Care; Health Insurance Complementary to JSIS; https://www.allianzcare.com/content/dam/onemarketing/azcare/allianzcare/en/docs/IPID-Afiliatys-EN-Jan20.pdf
