A national study in 2018 found that approximately 21.2 million people aged 21 or older in the U.S. were dealing with substance abuse. But of these people, only 3.7 million, or 17.5%, received addiction treatment services. Sadly, this is a common occurrence. If this is your situation, don’t let paying for rehab stop you from getting better.
Substance abuse addiction is a serious disorder with potentially severe physical and mental health side effects (including death). And while professional substance abuse treatment is one of the most effective ways to get to addiction recovery, not enough people work with a treatment provider and seek treatment. This could be for many reasons, but one of the most commonly cited reasons is that paying for rehab is too expensive. Still, you can’t let money hold you back from a healthy, happy and addiction-free life. If you’re worried about how to pay for rehab, consider these five options.
Consider Your Health Insurance Policy
If you’re currently employed, the first step you should take is to review your private health insurance to see if it covers any drug and alcohol rehab services. Many insurance policies will cover most of the cost of rehab.
Luckily, your coverage doesn’t have to be a mystery. Even the best treatment centers accept insurance coverage (although fewer accept state-financed health insurance like Medicare and Medicaid). Most drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers will check your coverage before you enroll in the program so you’ll know what you need to pay.
If you have insurance, it’s best to find a treatment facility that accepts your insurance company so you can reduce the overall treatment costs as much as possible. Behavioral Health Centers accepts insurance from most major carriers, including Aetna, BCBS, United Healthcare, Cigna, GEHA, Empire and more.
Additionally, if you’re currently unemployed but had insurance from a previous employer, you may be eligible to enroll in COBRA. Passed in 1985, COBRA is a federal law that provides continuous insurance coverage for the unemployed population. In some situations, COBRA can cover the cost of outpatient or inpatient rehab.
Financing Is Available at Addiction Centers
Unfortunately, not everyone has insurance. As of 2020, approximately 30 million Americans didn’t have health insurance policies. Luckily, drug or alcohol rehab centers understand this and know that rehab costs shouldn’t be a barrier to recovery. As a result, many treatment providers offer several payment options, including financing.
Financing can be done directly through addiction centers or through a third-party partner service. You can find a financing plan that works with your budget so you don’t have to worry about paying your drug rehab costs up front. If this option is the most feasible way for you to pay for addiction rehab, choose a treatment provider that offers financing.
Behavioral Health Centers partner with eFinance Solutions so our patients can get the financial support they need. Loans start with interest rates as low as 3.99% and come with 24 to 84-month terms. Find out more now.
Choose a Treatment Center You Can Afford
Recovery plans for addiction don’t look the same for everyone, so treatment centers offer various program formats. Patients can choose inpatient treatment, residential treatment, intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization or other treatment programs, depending on their preferences.
These programs also come at different price points, which can significantly influence what type of rehab treatment you enroll in. For example, an inpatient program is typically much more expensive than an outpatient alternative because you pay for food, housing and around-the-clock supervision and care. If your budget is tight, see if an outpatient program is right for you.
Ask Friends and Family for Help
If you’ve been struggling with addiction, it’s very likely those closest to you have noticed and hoped you’d get help. Now that you’re seeking treatment and want to take serious steps to recovery, you can lean on your friends and family for support.
If you don’t qualify for financing, you could ask to borrow the funds from your loved ones. Borrowing money from friends and family can be tricky, but your close circle will likely want to support you as you get the much-needed help.
An added benefit of borrowing from friends and family is that it may force you to try your hardest while in treatment. You’ll know that others are counting on you to make your best effort, which can be very motivating.
If you approach friends and family, make sure to have a proposal in mind. Know how much you need to ask for, and detail how and when you plan to pay them back. This can help them feel reassured that you’re taking it all seriously. You can also suggest they pay the bills directly to the treatment center so they aren’t concerned about giving you money.
Consider Out-of-State Drug Addiction Treatment Centers
Obviously, some states have generally higher costs for everything than others — and this includes rehabilitation services. If you live in a high cost of living state, like California or New York, consider whether traveling to another state would be cheaper. There’s a possibility that even with transportation costs, the cost of rehab in another state can save you thousands of dollars.
An added benefit of going out of town for addiction treatment is that you’re forced to focus solely on your recovery. You can cut yourself off from your regular day-to-day life and give all your energy to the treatment process.
Don’t Let Paying for Rehab Stop You From Seeking Recovery
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which avenue you choose to afford your treatment, as long as you find a way to pay for it. If you continue to ignore your drug abuse, the consequences could be life-threatening. In 2019, there were over 70,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States. Additionally, another 140,000 die from alcohol-related deaths each year.
Explore all your options and use the resources available to you to pay for your recovery. Once you’re sober and living a happy, successful life, you’ll see this is one investment that’s always worth it.
Afford Treatment at Behavioral Health Centers
Behavioral Health Centers is one of Florida’s top addiction centers offering treatment for substance abuse and mental health conditions. We can help whether you have a substance addiction, are looking for mental health treatment or need a combination of the two. We work with our patients to make treatment affordable by accepting major insurance plans, offering financing and providing various treatment plans at different price points. Contact us today to find out more.
