How Do I Pay for Addiction Treatment?

Do you suffer from an addiction to drugs or alcohol? If so, there are many different kinds of treatment programs that can help but you do not know how to pay for addiction treatment?

However, it’s no secret that there are fees and costs associated with procuring these services. However, this doesn’t have to be a deterrent. When you’re in the throes of this disease, wondering how you’ll pay for your addiction treatment shouldn’t be the most pressing concern on your mind.

Thankfully, there are myriad programs designed to help offset the financial burden. Today, we’re taking a look at the options you can consider as you move forward on the path toward recovery.

What is the Cost of Addiction Treatment?

As you begin researching your options, you’ll soon discover that there is no universal cost of addiction treatment. Rather, the cost will vary significantly depending on the level of care that you receive.

At the highest end of the spectrum, there are residential treatment programs. With these programs, you’ll temporarily live, sleep, and dine at the same facility where you’ll also receive your addiction treatment and therapy. This is an intensive, inpatient approach that is designed to treat the most serious addictions.

In addition, there are also other kinds of treatments. For instance, outpatient addiction programs operate on a more part-time basis. With these, you’re allowed to live at home. You can also continue going to work or school during the day but will visit the treatment facility for a set amount of time each week to attend programs and counseling sessions.

While outpatient treatments will cost less than inpatient ones, they are also limited in scope and will not be appropriate for everyone.

Once you choose the kind of program that works the best for you, it’s time to think about how you’ll pay for treatment. Whether you have insurance or not, there are plans and programs that can help. Let’s take a look at the most common ones.

How to Pay for Treatment With Insurance

Do you have a private health insurance plan? If so, most providers will cover at least a portion of your addiction treatment. There are even some that will cover the program in full.

If you’re unsure what your plan covers, you can call your insurance agent to check. You can also request that the treatment center perform this step for you. This way, they can confirm the following important details:

• If their center is in your provider network
• How many days of treatment are covered by your plan
• Which specific services are covered by your plan

Major health insurance companies that cover at least a portion of addiction treatment services include:

• Cigna
• United Healthcare
• BlueCross BlueShield
• Aetna

Again, your specific coverage will depend on the exact plan you signed up for. Your insurance company can tell you immediately whether or not addiction treatment is included and if so, which services they’ll cover.

Updates to ACA Policies

If you do not currently have a healthcare policy and you’re looking to sign up for one, it’s important to know what the Affordable Care Act (ACA) says about addiction. Under ACA, you cannot be penalized for a pre-existing condition. In fact, substance use disorders are included in the ACA’s list of 10 essential health benefits.

This means that while many private insurance companies have historically denied or limited access to addiction treatment, they’re now adjusting these policies. Today, many ACA-sponsored policies will cover up to 90% of the cost of rehabilitation services you receive through an addiction treatment center.

Paying With Medicare and Medicaid

If you meet certain prequalifying conditions, you might be eligible to receive federal and state-sponsored support for your addiction treatment.

To receive support via Medicaid, one of the following must apply to you:

• You’re over 65 years old
• You’re under 19 years old
• You’re pregnant
• You have children
• Your income falls within a certain range

To receive support from Medicare, one of the following must apply:

• You’re over 65 years old
• You’re disabled

Government Funding Programs

There are also a select number of state and local funding programs set aside specifically for drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs. Many of these are funded through federal sources, such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

To inquire if these are available, start by contacting your state’s dedicated health or behavioral health department. If the answer is affirmative, be prepared to provide a long list of identifying details about yourself during the application process. These include:

• Proof citizenship
• Proof of current state residence
• The severity of your addiction
• The history of your addiction
• Proof that you cannot afford other treatment options

Most of these funding opportunities have a long list of applicants, but they’re not impossible to obtain.

Scholarships and Private Funding

Understanding that the cost of treatment can be prohibitive to some, many facilities will offer scholarships to entering participants. This is always worth inquiring about during your initial discussions.

Especially if you’re uninsured and do not qualify for federal or state-supported assistance, this can be your most viable route forward. Even if an official scholarship fund hasn’t been established, most addiction treatment centers will offer flexible payment plans that allow you to finance the cost of your stay over the course of several months or years after your discharge.

Many times, these plans are set up as a loan package provided through a third-party lender.

Consider Alternative, Non-Profit Facilities

If you’ve exhausted the above ideas and you still can’t afford treatment for your addiction, you can always look into non-profit programs.

These are usually either free or low-cost, though there is often a catch. For instance, the Salvation Army offers a free addiction treatment program, but you’ll have to agree to work a 40-hour week in exchange for six months of room and board.

Find the Addiction Treatment Program You Need

If you’re suffering from an addiction, you should be able to access programs and resources that can help you break free from those chains. Thankfully, there are many different addiction treatment plans that can help alleviate the financial burden that this step can cause.

Take the time to research your options, talk to your facility manager, and explore all of the possibilities. In the meantime, continue to browse our site for all of the relevant, addiction-specific information you need. This next step is an important one, so let’s take it together.