How Drug Addiction Affects the Entire Family

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Peace Valley Recovery is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Our mission is to provide patient-centered care that focuses on healing and recovery from addiction. This blog provides information, news, and uplifting content to help people in their recovery journey.

Authored by Elliott Redwine, | Medically Reviewed by Peace Valley Recovery Editorial Staff,
Last Updated: March 5, 2023

If someone needs to go to addiction treatment, the first concern is usually how to pay for drug rehab. Some people believe that treatment isn’t a financially accessible option for them. Costs that come with rehab often deter people from seeking the help they need.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 21.2 million people needed treatment for substance abuse in 2018. Only 11 percent of those individuals, or 2.4 million people, received specialized addiction treatment at a facility. 32.5 percent of those who didn’t receive treatment reported it was due to an inability to afford it.

There are many different options for drug and alcohol rehab that provide services to those trying to get clean and sober, though. The cost of addiction treatment ranges depending on numerous factors such as the types of services needed or the location of the facility.

Figuring out how to pay for rehab can be worrisome but it shouldn’t keep you from seeking treatment. If you’re truly ready to stop using drugs and alcohol there are ways you can get the help you need. Continue reading to find out a few ways to cover the cost of addiction treatment.

The Ranging Costs of Drug Rehab

Pricing for drug rehab varies on a few main factors:

  • Type of treatment needed
  • Length of the treatment program
  • Location of the facility

Some require higher levels of care than others do. For example, someone who is addicted to prescription painkillers or heroin usually starts with a medical detox and then transitions to inpatient treatment. But someone who wants to stop their heavy but infrequent drinking episodes may only require the aid of an intensive outpatient program.

The longer and more intensive the treatment program, the more that treatment program costs. Rehab costs more for the individual who needs both medical detox and inpatient treatment than it does for the individual in outpatient treatment.

The Ranging Costs of Drug Rehab

If you’re looking to go to treatment out of state, the cost of the facility might be similar to a nearby option but the cost travel and accommodations add up. Additionally, facilities in areas with a higher cost of living also come at a higher price.

Using Insurance to Pay for Rehab

Insurance is one of the most common ways to pay for rehab. Health insurance companies like United HealthcareAetna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield offer a wide variety of plans. The details of your coverage for addiction treatment depend on the type of plan you have. Most offer at least some form of coverage to those who need to pay for rehab.

There are a few ways to find out what your insurance company provides in terms of treatment coverage. You can call your insurance company’s customer service department directly and ask for the specifics of your policy. They’ll explain your options and can often find particular treatment centers within your coverage network.

You can also call individual treatment facilities and have their admissions department run your insurance. For example, if there is a particular drug rehab program you want to attend, their admissions department can find out about how much treatment will cost.

Affordable Health Care Act (ACA)

The Affordable Health Care Act, or Obamacare, declared drug and alcohol use disorder an essential health benefit. This means ACA-sponsored insurance policies have to consider addiction treatment as important as many other important medical conditions.

Insurance companies also cannot deny coverage to a person because of their drug or alcohol addiction. Individuals can apply for a policy without discrimination due to their struggles with addiction or alcoholism. This provides more people with the opportunity to pay for rehab with the help of adequate healthcare coverage.

Covering Costs with Private Pay

Drug and alcohol treatment facilities also allow clients to pay for rehab on a private pay basis. Private pay individuals cover the cost of treatment without insurance. Some people can pay