For most people, video games are harmless fun, providing entertainment, competition and information. But for some people, video game activity becomes an addiction, and it goes beyond fun. Video game addiction is a psychological disorder that can be extremely disruptive to a person’s life, causing problems within interpersonal relationships and negatively affecting performance at home, work and school.
Seek Help Through HMO Video Game Addiction Coverage
If you are seeing signs of video game addiction in yourself or a friend, family member or colleague, it may be time to seek help for the disorder. In addition to the obvious signs of obsessive use of video game consoles and computers, other signs could include irritability, obsessively thinking about video games, skipping normally enjoyable activities, being late or absent at work or school, and jeopardizing family, social and work relationships.
Those who receive their healthcare coverage through an HMO (health maintenance organization) should check to see the level of HMO video game addiction coverage provided. The HMO contracts with a network of healthcare providers and facilities and generally restricts patients to treatment facilities that are within the network. If you receive treatment for a video game addiction, it will likely have to be at an in-network facility. Your primary care physician, who is assigned to you by the HMO and manages your care, would make a recommendation to the HMO, which would decide whether it would cover your treatment and what type and level of treatment you would receive.
Inpatient, Outpatient Treatment Options
Many people who have HMO video game addiction coverage can benefit from an outpatient treatment program with regular individual and group therapy sessions. Outpatient treatment means you can keep much of your regular lifestyle intact and stay on top of personal responsibilities and work and social commitments. Some patients, however, would do better with a residential treatment facility, especially if the video game addiction is combined with other addictions or mental health problems. Another factor is that people who receive outpatient therapy have access to computers, game consoles, tablets, smartphones and handheld gaming devices and may find themselves tempted to go back to old habits.
Your level of HMO video game addiction coverage would in part determine whether you would be approved for inpatient or outpatient treatment. If your HMO does not cover the entire recommended treatment, you may opt to pay the balance out of pocket. Your rehab facility may have a payment plan to help.