Admitting you have a problem often seems like an insurmountable hurdle when you’re active in addiction. In the back of your head, you always believe that, at some point, you’re going to get a grip on it. You keep telling yourself – after this last hit, I’ll get help tomorrow. You keep making promises to yourself that you ultimately break. The next morning, you wake up in withdrawal and feel sick. “I’ll just take a little to feel better, but that’s it.” Unfortunately, this is the cycle of addiction. You reach a point where you don’t even want to get high anymore, but you’re doing it because you want to avoid feeling sick. If you’re at this point, you’ve lost control and need professional help.
The biggest first step is admitting you have a problem, but the next leap is committing to going to treatment. Going out, getting help, and sticking with it requires serious commitment and resolve. Unfortunately, it also requires finances to afford it. If you’ve reached a breaking point and can no longer lead this life and want to get help, you might be stressing about how to pay for rehab.
The cost of rehab involves many variables, so it’s challenging to provide a definitive answer to that question. Each situation is different, as well as where and how the person will receive treatment. GoodTherapy.org discusses this topic and mentions that rehab costs can include expenses for medical detox, and outpatient care can cost around $1,000 a day. If you multiply that by 30 days, it can be incredibly costly.
Before fully committing to addiction treatment, it’s important to weigh your financial options carefully. Flexibility is crucial when seeking an addiction recovery program. Although not all of them will work the same, addressing your substance misuse and addiction programs will profoundly affect your life. The key is finding the right program that suits your specific needs.
What to Consider About Rehab Costs
More than 14,000 treatment facilities exist in the United States to combat substance abuse, so finding the right one for you can be an
overwhelming experience, especially when cost comes into play. When you’ve narrowed down your choices, you must consider each one carefully because not all of them will accept your insurance. Even if they do, they may not provide the same coverage. These facilities may also differ in the types of treatment they provide.
The two most critical factors when considering rehab are affordability and finding a program that meets your specific needs. You should also consider the following:
- The treatment center’s amenities and services
- The type of treatment you need – residential, partial hospitalization, or outpatient
- Is the treatment facility located in state or out of state?
- How long you must stay in the treatment program
These are factors you must consider when pursuing rehab options. The length of stay will depend on the severity of your substance use disorder and how much help you need.
If you’re unsure of how long you’ll need in treatment, you must consider staying long enough to give yourself a chance of meaningful recovery. The best outcomes occur with longer durations of treatment, and research shows that a minimum of 90 days is needed to drastically reduce or stop your drug use for the best treatment outcome. You need to consider that treatment will last at least three months. However, not all treatment will take place in a single setting.
The Continuum of Care in Addiction Treatment
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), addiction recovery falls along a specific spectrum and solely depends on the individual’s needs. The first step is to determine where you are along the spectrum. Fortunately, addiction treatment specialists can help you figure that out.
The experts recommend that if your condition requires you to remain on-site in a residential facility, you must plan for higher costs. You will need room and board and round-the-clock care. If you can live on your own outside of a 24-hour on-site facility, your costs won’t include medication service, meals, housing, and other needs that come with living on-site. Your costs will be lower. However, you must closely examine the site you’ll use. The right care is a critical component of your journey, whether it’s inpatient or outpatient.
Generally speaking, private treatment centers will cost more than public facilities, meaning if you’re receiving assistance through your health insurance, your expenses might exceed the maximum limit your insurance allows. You must closely examine the treatment center to view its credentials, treatment plans, testimonials from current or former patients, and complaints about the facility.
Paying for Rehab: What Are My Options?
Fortunately, there are several ways to pay for rehab that don’t leave you in financial ruin. We’ll examine them below.
Insurance
Utilizing your insurance benefits is a good place to start if you’re considering rehab. However, it’s important to check your policy and determine what’s covered. If you need assistance understanding your coverage, contact a representative who will walk you through the steps and answer your questions since insurance can be confusing to navigate alone.
Fortunately, addiction is also treatable under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Insurers must offer “Essential Health Benefits” under ACA, regardless of your insurance. Substance abuse, therapy, and counseling are covered in this case, as well as mental health treatment, which is incredibly beneficial.
Once you determine what’s covered under your insurance, you’ll get a better idea of what you’ll need to have covered. Unfortunately, you may need to find other means of paying for these services if the insurer does not cover them all. You might be responsible for deductibles that must be paid upfront before coverage begins. Public, private, or group insurance will also vary in coverage requirements.
Financing
Many facilities accept credit cards as a method of payment. However, bear in mind that your credit card limit must be able to accommodate the costs of treatment. As was mentioned above, providing a definitive figure is challenging because treatment needs vary from one person to the other. You need to explain your situation to a treatment advisor to determine what you’ll need – they’ll be able to give you a better idea of the cost. If you use a credit card, please keep interest fees in mind, as they will be expensive if you don’t pay the balance in full.
In some cases, people might also take out loans or rely on family members to help finance their treatment. It’s worth taking time to find a reasonable interest rate on loans available to you. With the possibility that treatment can cost you up to $1,000 a day, your loan must accommodate the price. Some people also mention selling personal items or raising money through an online site to get the necessary finances to pay for their treatment. Remember, it might sound expensive up front, but you should never put a price on your life. This is the difference between life and death.
Private Pay Options
Fortunately, private pay options for your rehab experience are still available. You can always pay with cash or check to cover the costs, especially if you want to determine your path to recovery if you can finance the costs. Paying for rehab with your own means outside of insurance will help you cut down the time it takes to get into a program. It also provides additional flexibility in the program you can utilize to help you get sober.
It’s Time for Treatment
How you pay for rehab is a personal decision – remember, there is no wrong way to go about your business. Not everyone has the financial means to pay for this experience, which is why other options exist. You must find the best approach for you and your financial situation.
Despite your options, treatment costs are still a significant barrier to seeking help. However, as mentioned above, you should never put a cost on your life. This is a life-saving treatment that will prepare you to take on the rest of your life. It’s time to take the steps toward a better future.
