Covering The Cost Of Rehab
When someone decides to go to rehab, the stress of how to pay for treatment can be just as burdensome as the challenge of addiction.
The cost of rehab is often a deterrent for those who need treatment, but it doesn’t need to be.
The cost of rehab varies widely depending on the level of care needed. Residential treatment programs offer the highest level of care and are often the most expensive as a result. Outpatient treatment programs may cost less, but may not provide enough support for sustained recovery.
Regardless of whether you have health insurance, there is a multitude of options available to help cover rehab costs if you need help determining your financial options.
Paying For Treatment With Insurance
Most private health plans do cover at least a portion of substance abuse treatment, and some cover it entirely. To learn your carrier’s benefit coverage for residential treatment, call them or visit their website to find out what’s covered.
Many drug treatment centers can do this for you if you’re not sure what to ask. They can find out if they are in your provider network and how many days and what services are covered under your specific plan.
United Healthcare, Cigna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Aetna are the four major health insurance companies that cover millions of individuals across the nation. Read more about these major insurance providers and the addiction treatment services they cover.
Cigna prides itself on providing affordable, quality healthcare coverage to nearly 86 million global customers. Depending on your chosen plan, Cigna will cover many of the addiction treatment expenses you’ll be responsible for when you choose an inpatient or outpatient facility.People looking to treat their addiction will be served by Cigna’s Behavioral Health division, which is dedicated to providing educational tools and resources for overcoming their substance abuse. Treatment coverage and costs greatly depend on your specific plan and where you’re located.
While many insurance policies set a limit on the level of addiction treatment a person may receive, Aetna takes a more individualized approach. The company will work with an individual’s needs to determine how much coverage is needed for a successful recovery. They’ll also help people find therapeutic and aftercare support services in their community.Those with Aetna insurance may be covered for partial hospitalization, detox, inpatient rehab and continuing care, but it’s important to contact your provider to check what’s covered under your individual plan.
Nearly one in three people nationwide are covered by a Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance plan, which is why the company is committed to providing excellent care to all of its customers.People wishing to heal from their toxic abuse patterns can be covered for detox services, inpatient rehab or partial hospitalization – depending on the plan they’ve chosen. In addition, those who suffer from addiction have access to around-the-clock support and educational tools thanks to the company’s OneHealth mobile platform.
The Affordable Health Care Act (ACA, Or Obamacare)
Under the Affordable Health Care Act, an insurance applicant is no longer penalized for a pre-existing condition, allowing someone who is already battling an addiction to apply for a healthcare policy. Drug and alcohol disorders are included in the ten essential health benefits central to the ACA, which means that these policies must treat addiction and mental health disorders with the same level of importance as any other medical condition.
Dr. Michael S. Shafer sheds some light on how the recent improvements with addiction and insurance plans are helping to save lives.
…part of the promise of the Affordable Care Act has been the requirement that insurance companies provide coverage for diseases like alcoholism. Historically, private insurance companies either limited or denied access to treatment…we can [now] identify and intervene with individuals who are still in the abuse stage of the disease and not the addiction and dependent stage of the disease.
Depending on the plan you select, ACA-sponsored policies cover between 60 to 90 percent of the cost of rehab services incurred in a drug treatment center.
| Health Insurance Marketplace Plan Types | |
|---|---|
| Bronze plans | 60 percent expense coverage |
| Silver plans | 70 percent expense coverage |
| Gold plans | 80 percent expense coverage |
| Platinum plans | 90 percent expense coverage |
| Catastrophic | 60 percent total average cost coverage* |
*Available only to those under 30 years old or those with extending circumstances
Medicare And Medicaid
Federal and state sponsored health benefits are available for rehab costs for specific segments of the population. These insurance programs can provide payment options for alcohol addiction treatment and each program has different requirements for eligibility.
To be eligible for Medicaid, you must be one of the following:
- Over the age of 65
- Under the age of 19
- Pregnant or a parent
- Within a specific income range
To be eligible for Medicare, you must be one of the following:
- Over the age of 65
- Disabled
Break free from addiction.
You have options. Talk about them with a treatment provider today.
Private Funding And Financing
Because the cost of rehab can be quite high depending on the facility and length of stay, it may be necessary to secure private financing for treatment if the individual is uninsured and cannot qualify for federal or state assistance. Some addiction treatment centers may offer scholarships, so it’s a good idea to talk to the admissions office as soon as you decide on a rehab.
If not, the treatment facility may offer financing plans that allow you to make payments after discharge. This arrangement is sometimes offered through a third party lender that can create a loan package. Be sure to discuss financing options with any treatment center being considered.
If you have savings, an IRA or a 401(k) plan, it may be necessary to take out some of that money to cover your treatment program. If your home has equity, you may be able to access that through a home equity loan and use it toward rehab services.
Fundraising Or Crowdfunding
Family members may be able to help you pay for rehab as well. Suggest that they make the payment directly to the facility so there will be no question that the funds are being used as intended. Friends may also be able to help raise money for your rehab costs using Crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe.
State And Local Government Programs
Federally funded, state-run drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs can provide public assistance. Depending on the state, these programs may be a separate agency or they may be included under a larger health or behavioral health department. They can offer both outpatient and inpatient care, as well as aftercare support services.
These public programs will have specific requirements in order for an individual to qualify for assistance, including proof of citizenship; proof of residence in the program’s state; the degree and history of the individual’s addiction; and a demonstrated inability to afford other treatment options based on income and various other factors. There is usually a waiting list to get into these programs, but most will offer some kind of support during the wait for an opening.
SAMHSA Grants
One source of federal funding for state addiction treatment programs is one of the block grants provided through SAMHSA. Specifically, the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG) offers drug and alcohol prevention and treatment programs for specific segments of the population. A few examples of individuals who qualify for this type of grant are pregnant and postpartum women or intravenous drug users.
Selling Items Of Value
Due to the importance of getting treatment for a serious substance addiction, it may be necessary to liquidate some non-essential items of value in order to finance the cost of rehab. Items such as sports equipment, digital equipment (cameras, laptops, etc.), collections of art, music equipment, used car or boats, sports memorabilia and jewelry can be sold quickly and easily.
All of these items are non-essential to survival and can provide the funds needed for necessary addiction treatment.
Getting Started In Treatment
Ultimately, paying for an addiction treatment program is entirely possible. Once you’re ready for treatment, it is just a matter of gathering information and determining how to finance your life-changing road to recovery. Contact a treatment provider to discuss available rehab and financing options.