If you happen to be suffering from a substance use disorder, drug rehab is the best option to go back to a sober life. The combination of therapies you will go through are effective in ending your dependence on drugs and making healthier lifestyle choices. In the end, you will be able to take back control of your life once again.
However, drug rehab tends to be expensive. It can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars. Many people can’t afford the hefty price, so they shy away from treatment.
But there are ways to help pay for the cost of rehab. If you have financial concerns, take a look at the options available to you to help finance your recovery journey.
How much can drug rehab cost in total?
Drug rehab has different overall price tags. It depends on the rehab center, its location, the amenities provided, the kinds of therapies they will give you, as well as any medications you may need to manage your substance use disorder.
Different drugs have different effects on the body, so there is no one size fits all drug rehab program. Each one varies depending on what drug you have been using, how long you’ve been dependent on it, and how severe your symptoms of substance use disorder are. Your physical and mental health status also play important roles in what kind of therapies you would go through in rehab.
In most cases, if you have any kind of substance use disorder, you will have to go through detox first. Detox aims to get rid of all traces of addictive substances from your body. Doctors and nurses will facilitate the detox, and they will make sure that withdrawal symptoms are minimized. The goal is to make you as comfortable as possible as they decrease your drug intake, until you can tolerate taking no drugs at all.
Most medically assisted detox programs go for up to $1,500. The price may vary depending on what substance you’re being treated for. If you are given medications to help with withdrawal, those add to the cost.
For some cases, like in alcohol rehab, you would need long-term medication. Methadone, for instance, is a common medication used in alcohol rehab. It costs nearly $5,000 per year.
If your case of substance use disorder is mild, a doctor may recommend that you undergo outpatient rehab. Here, you only have to go to the rehab facility during scheduled therapy sessions, which can be several times a week. After each session, you can go home and carry on with your usual routines.
Outpatient rehab programs often cost $5,000 for a three month program. It could be more or less, depending on the rehab center and the therapies you need. Also, if your doctor allows you to go through a shorter program, the cost is cheaper.
If your case is more severe, your doctor will recommend enrolling in an inpatient rehab program. Here, you have to live inside a rehab center for the entire length of the program. Depending on your case, this can be anywhere from 30 to 90 days.
Inpatient rehab is more expensive, as it includes accommodation, food, laundry services, and, most importantly, 24/7 access to care. In case you encounter problems, you can call for help right away. Doctors, nurses, and mental health professionals are always ready to assist you.
On average, inpatient rehabs can set you back $6,000 for a 30-day program. Longer stays can cost as much as $60,000 — ten times as much as a 30-day program. Luxurious rehab centers charge even more — up to $20,000 for a 30-day program. These are the kinds of facilities that have jacuzzis, spas, swimming pools, saunas, and other luxury amenities.
In all, the total cost of rehab can easily reach $50,000 or more. That’s a lot of money for most people to shell out.
How can I offset the cost of drug rehab?
One common way to help pay for rehab is health insurance. Today, most insurance policies cover the costs of drug rehab, as mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.
If you have private health insurance, you don’t need to pay for the entire cost of drug rehab. Talk to your insurance provider to find out how much they will cover. Most of the time, insurers do not cover the whole cost of treatment.
It also pays to check with different rehab centers to find out which one of them accepts your insurance provider. Not all rehab centers may be partnered with your insurer.
In most cases, health insurance helps tremendously in bringing down the cost of drug rehab.
If your insurance policy does not cover the whole cost of rehab, you will need to pay for the balance on your own.
Some rehab centers also offer financing for those who do not have insurance. This is a way for you to pay off the cost gradually, instead of shelling out a huge amount of money upfront. In some centers, you can take advantage of financing if the remaining cost after insurance is still too much for you.
Can I use Medicare or Medicaid to help pay for drug rehab?
Yes, you can. Medicare and Medicaid can provide you with low-cost, or even free, options for drug rehab. But first, you need to be eligible, and each state has different rules for eligibility and coverage.
Take note that not all rehab centers accept Medicaid or Medicare. Check with your rehab center first if they do.
Medicaid is often given to people who are within a certain income bracket. If you earn within this limit, you are covered by Medicaid, and you can use it to help pay for treatment.
As for Medicare, this is available to people over 65 and those with disabilities. Medicare can also help pay for drug rehab, and it covers different parts of the treatment process.
