How to pay for rehab is an understandable concern. However, it should not be someone’s primary concern. Someone’s primary concern should be coming to grips with the reality they have an addiction illness they need to address. Once an addiction sufferer is ready to admit they have a problem, they can start thinking about getting treatment.
If you have a drug or alcohol addiction issue, rehab is the only way you will ever be able to reclaim your life from the grip of addiction. When you come to that realization, you should immediately start thinking about where to get treatment. That’s the right time to start worrying about how you are going to pay for rehab.
Before you become obsessed with paying for treatment, you’ll be happy to learn you have lots of options at your disposal. You will also be happy to learn that most rehabs, ours included, will help you figure which payment option works best for you.
Please review the section below for information on how people pay for rehab.
How People Pay for Rehab
For the most part, the costs related to treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction are expensive. There are a few places that might charge less than others, but quality treatment is usually expensive.
If someone has healthcare insurance coverage as an individual or through their employer, paying for rehab is much more manageable. In days gone past, healthcare insurance providers considered getting treatment for addiction as elective medical care. Using that as the basis for covering rehab costs, they could usually avoid doing so.
All of that changed in 2009 when the Obama administration passed the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Under the guidelines set forth by the ACA, insurance carriers have to cover addiction treatment the same way they would for any other kind of medical teartment. Furthermore, insurance companies are no longer permitted to discriminate against customers with preexisting conditions. That’s great news for addicts seeking treatment because addiction is almost always a preexisting condition.
There is one caveat to all of this as it relates to paying rehab costs. The extent of coverage is a little bit arbitrary because not all rehab costs must be paid by insurance companies.
Here is a list of what healthcare insurance carries must cover:
- Detox programs
- Any drugs a doctor might prescribe as part of the treatment process
- Basic inpatient treatment costs (excludes holistic and experimental treatment options)
- Outpatient treatment
- Aftercare counseling
From this list, you might want to note that a lot of insurance carriers are willing to pay 100% of outpatient care costs. Why? Outpatient care is far less expensive than inpatient care. They offer to pay 100% of outpatient treatment as motivation for the customer to choose such an option if possible.
If for any reason someone doesn’t have insurance in violation of the ACA, they do have other payment options at their disposal. ]
Of course, they can always pay cash. If they don’t have cash but do pay into a 401K or TRA account, the law permits them to take out loans against those savings. As long as they pay back the loan on time, they can avoid having to pay taxes. If they have no available cash, they might be able to borrow from a relative.
In a pinch, clients can use credit cards to pay for rehab. It’s never a good thing to take on debt while they are struggling in life, but it is a viable alternative. they can worry about paying back the debt after they start feeling better.
If all else fails, youclients should talk to a rehab facility administrator. Lots of rehabs have access to grants and scholarships. Based on a client’s circumstances, they might qualify for something. If not, some rehabs might be willing to offer inhouse financing. It’s money that the client would have to pay back, but again, they can worry about that when they are feeling better.
It’s our sincerest hope that paying for rehab is not keeping you from getting treatment. Your life depends on you not letting that happen. If you are ready for treatment, you should contact us as soon as possible at 833-497-3812. During that call, we can talk about our facility and addiction treatment services. We can also talk about your payment options and how we can help you cover your treatment costs. Your life is priceless, and you shouldn’t let money stop you from saving it.