Going to rehab requires commitment and resolve, but it also requires having the funds to pay for it. Now that you have decided to get help for a substance use disorder (SUD), you may be wondering about rehab, how much it costs and how you pay for it.
Rehab costs vary for so many reasons, so the answer to how much rehab costs depends on each person’s situation and where and how they receive their treatment. According to GoodTherapy.org, rehab costs, which can include expenses for medical detox and outpatient care, could cost up to $1,000 a day.
Before you can fully commit to receiving treatment for a SUD, you must look at your financial options and weigh them carefully. Flexibility is important to have when looking at addiction recovery programs. Not all of them work the same, and addressing substance use and addiction can work in many different ways. The key is to find the right program for you.
Factors to Consider When Thinking About the Costs of Rehab
Nearly 15,000 substance use treatment facilities call the U.S. home, so finding the right one for your needs and pocketbook can be a daunting task. When you have narrowed down your choices, you will have to consider each one carefully, as not all health coverage plans pay for the same services. Facilities also vary in the types of treatment they offer.
Affordability and finding a program that meets your needs are two of the most important factors to consider when thinking about your rehab options. You also must consider the:
- Type of treatment you will need (residential, partial hospitalization, or outpatient)
- Where the treatment facility is located (in-state or out of town)
- How long you will be staying in a treatment program
- The facility’s amenities and services
These factors and others should be kept in mind as you pursue your options. How long a person stays in treatment depends on the severity of their SUD and how much help they need.
If you are not sure how much time you’ll need, consider staying long enough to give yourself a real chance of having recovery work for you. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Research indicates that most addicted individuals need at least three months in treatment to significantly reduce or stop their drug use and that the best outcomes occur with longer durations of treatment.”
So, consider that you will need at least 90 days of treatment at least. Not all of your treatment will have to take place in one setting.
The Continuum of Care in Addiction Treatment
Per the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), addiction recovery falls along a spectrum, depending on a patient’s needs. You will first need to figure out what placement you will need along that spectrum, which addiction care professionals can help you determine.
If it is recommended that your condition requires an on-site stay in a residential facility, you will have to plan for higher costs as you will require room and board and round-the-clock care. If you can live on your own outside of a 24-hour residential facility, then your costs will not include housing, meals, medication service, and other amenities that come with a 24-hour facility.
Your costs will be lower, but you still need to look closely at the site you will be using. Getting the right care is critical, regardless of whether it is inpatient or outpatient.
In general, private rehab facilities are more expensive than public facilities. This means that if you are receiving assistance from health insurance, you could see your expenses reach the maximum limits your insurance requires.
Checking out a rehabilitation facility across levels is important. This includes taking a look at their credentials, the treatment plans they offer, testimonials from past or current clients, and if any reports or complaints have been filed about the facility.
Paying for Drug and Alcohol Rehab
There are several ways to pay for rehab. We briefly look at them here:
Insurance
If you have health insurance, this is a good place to start when considering how you will pay for rehab. You must check your insurance policy to see what services it covers. If you need help understanding your plan, call a representative who can walk you through the steps and answer any questions you have.
Addiction is treatable under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Under the ACA, insurers must offer Essential Health Benefits, no matter what kind of insurance a person has. Substance abuse and therapy and counseling are covered among these benefits. Mental health treatment services are covered as well.
Once you find out what your plan covers, you will have a better idea of what you will need to cover. You will have to find other means to pay for the services your insurer does not cover. You may also need to consider any deductible payments you will need upfront before your coverage kicks in.
Public insurance, private insurance (PPO, HMO), or group insurance vary in their coverage requirements.
Look for rehab centers in-state and out-of-state in case your insurer covers rehab treatment only within a certain distance of your home. If you want to go to rehab out of state, you may have to pay for most or all of your costs, so this is something to consider, too.
Depending on your health plan, you may be eligible to receive coverage at approved facilities for:
- Medical detox
- Residential (inpatient) care
- Long-term residential care
- Outpatient care
- Treatment for co-occurring disorders (dual diagnosis)
- Aftercare counseling, therapy, services
Financing
Some facilities accept credit cards for payment, so that is an option. Keep in mind that credit card limits must be available to accommodate the payments that are charged to it. You must also consider interest fees that will come into play if the balance is not paid in full. Some people take out loans to pay for treatment, or their family members may take out a loan or co-sign on one to get the money to pay for treatment.
It is worth taking some time to find an attractive interest rate on the loans available to you and if this is an option you can manage for the long term. With the possibility of addiction rehab costs hitting at least a grand or more a day, your loan will need to be able to accommodate a hefty price tag. Some people also sell personal items or raise money through an online site to get the funding they need to pay for rehab.
Private Pay Options
Paying your rehab costs with cash or check is still an option, especially for people who want to determine their own path to recovery and have the means to pay for it. Paying for rehab on your own outside of insurance can help you cut down wait times for getting into a program. You may also have more flexibility in what kinds of programs you can use to aid you in getting sober.
Get the Help You Need for Drug, Alcohol Addiction
How you pay for rehab is a personal decision. You have to find the best approach for you and your financial situation. Even though professional help for substance addiction is critical in many cases, rehab costs remain a barrier to treatment for many people, but they shouldn’t be. 
Finding ways to pay for it is valid, but there is always a way to get rehabilitation costs covered, and doing so is worthwhile. Addiction is a life-or-death issue for many people, which is why getting help is so important.
Leaving a substance addiction untreated only complicates life for the people who have it, putting everything they have in jeopardy. Substance abuse exposes people to overdose and possibly death. It is worth it to find a space dedicated to the health and well-being of people addicted to alcohol and drugs. The costs of not doing so are much higher in the long run.
Substance abuse issues also cost society, according to past data from NIDA. It reported that “abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs is costly to our Nation, exacting more than $740 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity and health care.”
When compared to a billion-dollar price tag, getting help for addiction is the less expensive way to go.
Ask About Options Your Rehab Facility Offers
Many facilities have payment plans that offer flexible options in getting the rehab bills paid. Some of them offer scholarships or grants to the facility that can make covering the costs of care easier. Social programs in your area may be able to connect you to financial resources that can help you find the right facility.
Give Summit Behavioral Health a call today to learn more about the programs and financing options we have. We encourage you to talk with us about your situation to see how we can offer help.
We offer medical detox, a critical part of addiction recovery, as well as:
- Acute addiction treatment services at our Haverhill, Massachusetts, facility
- Clinical Stabilization Services (CSS) (clients stay on-site while receiving clinical therapy)
- Residential treatment
- Outpatient programs (four locations throughout New Jersey
We can help you find the program you need for you or your loved one. We want to help you reach your recovery goals, so reach out today to learn more.
