Addiction treatment can be a major investment, especially if you don’t have insurance or are planning on paying out-of-pocket. However, most major insurance companies are required to cover at least part of the cost of treatment. In addition, there may be sliding-scale payment options or payment plans available to help you in the endeavor of paying for rehab. Here is everything you need to know about paying for treatment and using insurance to cover your care.

What Are The Different Ways You Can Pay For Rehab?

Every addiction treatment program will have different charges and fees and the options you have to pay for treatment may vary. Regardless of how you’re looking to pay, there are treatment facilities out there who are willing and eager to work with you and get you started on your road to recovery.

Patients who have private health insurance may have copays and out-of-pocket costs that come to be 10-50% of the total cost. At the same time, some insurance plans will cover all of the treatment if the deductible has been met. That being said, if you can’t afford the out-of-pocket costs associated with paying for rehab, there are other ways to cover the costs. Some options for drug and alcohol rehab funding are:

• Affordable Care Act
• Medicaid or Medicare
• Military insurance
• Private insurance
• Scholarships

Although the costs associated with drug and alcohol treatment may seem high, they are nothing compared to the cost of addiction. After all, the cost of substances adds up, pushing people to spend thousands of dollars each year on substances. If someone’s addiction is severe, he or she may suffer health complications that lead to high medical bills, have trouble holding a job, and even go into debt. In the worst-case scenario, addiction can even cost someone their life.

Paying for Rehab With Private Insurance

Private insurance companies, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare, are insurance plans that are typically provided through employers or purchased by the individual themselves. Nearly 50% of American’s have private insurance through their employers. Private insurance plans vary greatly, but most will cover some to all of the costs of treatment depending on whether or not the treatment facility is in-network. Insurance companies will be able to provide you with a list of drug and alcohol rehab programs that are covered by your plan.

Military Insurance Coverage for Drug and Alcohol Treatment

TRICARE is a military health care program for active-duty military, veterans, and their family members. These programs provide coverage for inpatient and outpatient services at TRICARE-approved rehabilitation facilities. TRICARE will also provide coverage for PTSD, a condition that many veterans suffer from.

Expanding Behavioral Health Coverage with the Affordable Care Act

In 2010, President Obama enacted the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA was established to help people who were seeking treatment cover the costs of treatment with the help of their insurance company. This law expanded coverage to 27 million Americans who did not previously have healthcare coverage. It also began to consider alcoholism and addiction as pre-existing conditions that could no longer be denied insurance coverage. Thanks to the ACA, your insurance company must provide some coverage for substance abuse treatment, thereby making rehab more affordable.

Paying for Addiction Treatment With Medicaid or Medicare

Medicare and Medicaid are both government-funded health programs that are established to help reduce the high costs of medical bills and healthcare. Medicare is federally funded and is provided to people who are 65 years of age and older or those who have a disability. Medicaid, on the other hand, is a state and federally funded program for low-income individuals. If you qualify for these types of programs, they will cover portions of your treatment and make paying for rehab much easier.

Scholarships

Although rare, some treatment centers offer scholarships. Before you can get a scholarship, you may have to fill out an application, conduct an interview, and even wait a long time before a bed opens up. You can find out whether or not the rehab center offers scholarships by simply calling and asking.

What Determines the Cost of Rehab?

Some rehab centers offer luxurious amenities and living standards that mimic those of a five-star resort or hotel, while others offer the basics and focus more on the functionality of the program. However, there are several factors that are included in the cost of treatment and determine how much you will be paying for drug and alcohol rehab. These include:

• Type of program – Inpatient facilities are more costly than outpatient facilities due to the level of care offered.
• Therapies offered – Every rehab center will offer different therapies and treatments. For example, someone who participates in medication-assisted treatment may pay more due to their medications than someone who just goes to therapy.
• Length of program – Drug and alcohol rehab program lengths range from 28 days to 90 days or several months. The longer the program, the higher the price.
• Location of rehab center – Of course, location is a huge factor to consider when going to rehab. Rehabs in California or Florida may cost much more than rehabs in Tennessee or Georgia due to higher costs of living.
• Amenities offered – Amenities can be a game-changer when it comes to price. Some facilities just have living spaces and therapy spaces while others offer pools, gyms, massages, and more. Facilities with more amenities and fancier options will be more expensive.

Figure Out How You’ll Be Paying for Rehab Today

The cost of drug and alcohol rehab shouldn’t be the thing that stands in the way between you and your sobriety. After all, there are many solutions to help you cover the costs of addiction treatment. Contact one of our dedicated treatment providers today to figure out a payment solution for you.