If you are suffering from an addiction, the best way to get your life back together is through professional treatment options. Addiction is a form of disease that can be treated, so there’s lots of hope for you. And with many treatment options at the ready, you can surely find a rehab center that caters to your specific addiction.
But you might be concerned about the costs. After all, if addiction is a disease, then going to rehab is like going to a hospital. Confinement in a hospital costs a lot of money; in the same way, rehab could drain your finances drastically.
It’s not all bad, though. The costs vary between each rehab center, so you can find one that fits within your budget. There are even centers that offer their services for free, catering to people with low income. Also, you can get help to find a way to pay for treatment.
Does my insurance cover addiction rehab?
Yes, most likely it does. In fact, insurance policies are the most common ways to finance rehab programs. How much would be covered depends on both the insurance provider and the rehab center.
These kinds of insurance usually cover addiction rehab:
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Private insurance
- State-financed health insurance
- Military insurance
What if I don’t have insurance?
If you don’t have insurance, you can still get help in paying for treatment. One way is to find centers that offer financing options. These centers allow you to pay in gradual amounts so you don’t break the bank right away.
Otherwise, you can find rehab centers that offer free services. These can be your best options if you are really strapped for cash. Take note, though, that free centers often have long waiting lists. They also have very limited budgets, which means that the kind of care they provide is not as comprehensive as paid rehab centers.
But financing will put me in debt
That is true. You’ll have to pay off the financing slowly, even after your treatment process has ended.
However, the cost will be worth it in the long run. Imagine if you decide to not get treatment: You’d lose your job, you’ll find it really hard to earn for yourself, and most (if not all) of your money would go to buying drugs.
Take this example. People addicted to alcohol often spend over $3,000 on booze. That doesn’t even include legal costs, bail, damages, and other expenses they might incur along the way, as some of them may become violent towards others.
But if you do get treated, at least you would regain the ability to keep a job for much longer. That way, you have a steady stream of income, and eventually, you’ll pay off your financing. After that, you’ll still have a source of income, so you can live life normally again.
How much does addiction treatment cost?
There is more than one kind of rehab method for addictions, and each one has different costs. Here is a summary of the most popular ones:
- Detox: This is a procedure meant to rid your body of all traces of addictive substances. Detox can be either outpatient (i.e. you only go to the rehab center a few times a week) or inpatient (i.e. it’s part of a comprehensive rehab program). Outpatient detox can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500. Inpatient ones are usually part of the price of a complete rehab program, so it depends on the rehab center.
- Inpatient Rehab: This is when you are admitted into a rehab center for the entire duration of the rehab program. These can cost around $6,000 for 30 days. More well-known centers can charge up to $20,000 for the same duration of treatment. For inpatient programs that last 60 to 90 days, the price range is from $12,000 to $60,000.
- Outpatient Rehab: Outpatient programs are often cheaper than inpatient ones. They are mostly recommended for mild cases of addiction. Most outpatient rehab programs cost about $5,000 for three months. Others, though, can be up to $10,000. The price depends on how frequently you have to visit the center and the length of the treatment.
- Medications: Some addictions need medications for more effective treatment. For example, if you’re addicted to heroin, you would need consistent doses of methadone for a year. This would cost a little less than $5,000. Again, the price depends on the kinds of medications that you would need.
What makes addiction treatments expensive?
A lot of things go into the price of a rehab program. These include:
The rehab center itself
Some rehab centers with well-known names often cost a lot more than others. Also, the location of the centers influences their price. If a rehab center is in a city with a high cost of living, then it will be more expensive.
Additionally, if you take an inpatient treatment route, you also have to pay for your stay in the center. It’s much like being confined in a hospital: the longer you stay, the more you pay. Not to mention that the rehab center will also feed you and take care of your needs for the entire duration of the rehab program.
The treatments you get
If your rehab program offers lots of different treatments, the price will be much higher. Also, if you need to undergo medically-assisted detox, that will add to the cost. If you get professional counseling, especially if it’s one-on-one, that will also add to the cost.
Amenities
Some rehab centers may offer relaxing services like massages, spas, acupuncture, and the like. They could even have sports facilities like pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, and others.
If a rehab center has a lot of these amenities, the cost would be a lot more expensive. There are even luxury rehab centers that cost tens of thousands of dollars a month. They usually cater to a wealthy clientele.
The first step
To get started on the road to recovery, find a rehab center fit for you. Don’t let the cost overwhelm you, as there are ways to get help with the money. Also, do your best to find centers that are well within your budget.