How Do I Pay For Alcohol Rehab?

The Cost Of Alcohol Rehab

The cost of rehab is different for everyone entering alcohol addiction treatment due to the many factors, including:

Type Of Treatment Needed

The level of care necessary can greatly affect the cost of treatment. For example, entering an inpatient detox program in a hospital setting will cost more than entering an outpatient detox program. Addiction treatment options may include detox, inpatient rehab, residential rehab, partial hospitalization, outpatient programs, and medication management clinics.

Rates will vary, such as:

• Inpatient drug detox can range from $200 to $1,000 daily, depending on the treatment medication and care needed to help you detox.
• Outpatient programs can cost between $2,000 and $12,000 for 12 to 16 weeks, depending on program inclusions, such as medication management, individual counseling, and family therapy.
• Intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs can incur monthly costs between $3,000 and $10,000.
• Inpatient and residential programs are typically $1,000 daily or more, depending on added care and services.

Your insurance plan with often cover all or a significant amount of the cost of treatment and many facilities offer payment plans to help with the rest. Don’t let the initial cost of rehab keep you from getting the help you need.

Length Of Stay

How long you stay in treatment will impact the cost of services. Many people benefit from staying in varying levels of treatment for a year or longer, with higher success rates connected to longer stays in treatment. Recovery often includes detoxification, inpatient treatment, outpatient services, and aftercare support. Detoxification and inpatient treatment, which often include the highest costs, are usually the shortest part of recovery.

A year in recovery may look like:

• 1 week detox
• 1 month in inpatient treatment
• 12 weeks outpatient
• 8+ months in counseling and 12-step groups like AA

Everyone’s recovery timeline will look different based on their individual needs and level of care.

Traditional And Alternative Therapies

Today, treatment programs typically offer traditional and alternative therapies, all of which can vary in price. Psychotherapies include behavioral therapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy or acceptance and commitment therapy and are included in the treatment program cost. Similarly, if a treatment center offers alternative therapies, like adventure therapy and equine therapy, they are included in the overall cost of the treatment program.

Additional complimentary therapies and treatments, like acupuncture, acupressure, and massage, may be available for an added fee. Depending on the center and provider, sessions may cost between $50 and $100 an hour.

Paying For Rehab With Insurance

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act classified substance abuse treatment as an essential health benefit, requiring all insurance plans sold through the Health Insurance Marketplace and provided by Medicaid to include substance abuse treatment coverage to some degree. Most health insurance providers have websites where you can view the specifics of your plan. You can also call a toll-free phone number on your health insurance card to determine what your plan covers.

Insurance usually won’t begin covering expenses until you meet a deductible, and you may have to pay a copay. Health insurance for alcohol rehab can still be a tremendous way to keep out-of-pocket costs low. Also, choosing a treatment provider that is “in-network” with your insurance company, meaning that you seek services from a provider who is in a contract with your insurance company to provide discounted services, can reduce costs.  You can find a list of in-network providers on your insurance company’s website. Seeking “out of network” care is still an option, but will most likely come with higher costs and fees.

Medicare And Medicaid

Medicare and Medicaid are two of the largest health benefits networks in the United States. Medicare is federally based, and Medicaid is state-based. Both offer insurance and other benefits to participants based on factors like income, disability, age, and special circumstances.

To qualify for Medicare, you must:

• Be over 65 years of age.
• Be eligible for retirement benefits through Social Security.
• Be receiving disability benefits from Social Security for at least two years.
• Have end-stage kidney disease at any age.

You can visit Medicare.gov to start an application or get more information. They also have a toll-free number you can call if you prefer to talk to a representative.

To qualify for Medicaid, you must:

• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Be a resident of the state in which you are applying.
• Meet specific age requirements, like being under 65.
• Meet specific income requirements.

You may also qualify if you are pregnant or have a disability at any age. Your state’s requirements can be found online.

Tricare

Tricare is a healthcare insurance provider that works specifically with the military. According to Tricare’s website, to be eligible for Tricare, you must be:

• An active service member
• Family of an active service member
• A National Guard or Reserve member
• Family of a National Guard or Reserve member
• A survivor of war or combat duties
• A former spouse of a military service member
• A Medal of Honor recipient or their family

Others registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System may also qualify. It is essential to consult with Tricare representatives regarding coverage for substance abuse treatment.

Alcohol Help is not affiliated with any insurance.

How To Pay For Rehab When You Don’t Have Insurance

If you do not have insurance for alcohol rehab and haven’t applied for Medicare or Medicaid, don’t give up your fight to get the help you deserve. There are several other options to help with paying for rehab.

Local Programs

Local agencies and programs, like your county’s drug and alcohol or mental health department, often receive funding from the state, which may help cover the costs of alcohol treatment for people who meet certain financial requirements.

Contact your county’s behavioral health or drug and alcohol department to apply. You will be given a comprehensive assessment to determine which level of treatment you need, inpatient or outpatient. They will help you contact a provider to enroll and will take care of the paperwork behind the scenes with the provider. The provider will be an agency that accepts state funding, so you won’t be able to choose the treatment center.

Fundraising Or Crowdfunding

If you are interested in crowdfunding, you can ask someone you trust to help you set up a GoFundMe account and share it on social media. Be honest and explain your plans to change your life. Family, friends, and even strangers will often want to help you succeed. They may share your GoFundMe post, leading to donations from people you don’t know.

If you are uncomfortable with a crowdfunding campaign, you can sell items on eBay to raise money or borrow money from family members. Some local churches have funds set aside to help people in need. Ask them to contribute to your stay in treatment.

Using COBRA To Pay For Rehab

If you have insurance through an employer but are no longer employed, you can extend the insurance through the Consolidate Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). In many cases, the COBRA coverage for treatment stays the same, but the price dramatically increases. So, if the insurance plan you chose while working for a company covered or partially covered drug and alcohol treatment, your COBRA plan should also.

Most companies have an employee assistance program (EAP) or human resources department where a representative can explain the details of your COBRA plan. It is imperative to meet with them so you can know the alcohol treatment costs.

Indian Health Service/Tribal/Urban Funds

Indian Health Service (HIS) is a government program that fights drug and alcohol addiction in tribal communities. It awards numerous grants annually to local agencies for all levels of addiction treatment, including prevention and aftercare.

Paying For Rehab Out Of Pocket

Rehabs themselves may offer many alcohol rehab financing options to help you get the care you need. This might include working with a third-party lender to provide loans or offering payment plans that allow you to spread the cost of their treatment over multiple installments. Some rehabs even offer sliding scales for rehab payment options, meaning that having a lower income may qualify a patient for lower fees for treatment.

How To Choose A Rehab

Choosing a rehab may initially feel overwhelming, but help is available to make it easier. Contact a treatment provider today to learn more about your treatment options. They can help answer your rehab-related questions, explore your treatment options, and get you started on a healthier, sober path.