It takes a lot of strength and courage for an addiction sufferer to admit they are powerless over their drug of choice. By doing so, they finally open the door to getting the help they so desperately need. When they finally decide to get help, one of the primary concerns they’ll have about treatment usually points to rehab costs.
Paying for Rehab Costs Through Healthcare Insurance
If someone has healthcare insurance, rehab costs will likely have little no effect on the addiction sufferers’ decision to get treatment. The reason healthcare insurance plays such a significant role in clients lining up for treatment is that their insurance companies can no longer deny them coverage.
In 2010, the Obama administration signed the Affordable Care Act into law. Since that point in time, healthcare insurance providers have been required to cover rehab costs the same way they would cover the costs of any other type of medical treatment. The new law also made it illegal for insurance companies to discriminate against customers with preexisting conditions, something that would likely affect anyone with an addiction.
It’s noteworthy that the Affordable Care Act does permit insurance companies to forgo paying for some rehab costs that could be considered elective costs. However, the law does dictate that insurance companies cover to some extent, the following costs:
- Detox Programs
- Prescription medications administered as a part of rehab costs
- Basic residential treatment costs
- Outpatient treatment costs
Healthcare insurance customers can expect rehab costs to be capped at 90 days without special authorization. For coverage verification, most rehab facilities employ an administrator whose job it is to advocate for prospective clients to secure coverage information.
Paying for Rehab Costs Out-of-Pocket
For the unfortunate souls who don’t carry healthcare insurance as individuals or through their employer, rehab costs will be of maximum importance. As for how people might be able to pay for rehab, here’s a list of common ways clients pay for their rehab costs Out-of-Pocket:
- By dipping into personal saving (includes 401-K funds)
- Taking on unsecured debt (personal loans and credit cards)
- Grants and scholarships from government agencies and charitable organizations
- Rehab facility financing for clients with decent credit scores
While dipping into savings or taking on more debt might not be preferable, addiction treatment is often about life and death. Every client should view paying for rehab costs as something they are doing to improve their quality of life drastically. Money can be replaced, but there’s only one life to live.
Questions Related to Rehab Costs
At this point, it’s time to get down to the central question at hand, “what are the normal rehab costs one should expect to pay if paying completely Out-of-Pocket?”
Using a question/answer format, here are some answers to such fundamental questions about rehab costs.
A: Detox programs can last from 7 days for a standard detox program up to 30 days for a tapering detox program. The cost of a detox program can run from as little as $250 a day up to as high as $800 a day in an upscale rehab or detox facility.?
A: When doctors prescribe medication during the treatment process, the medications are intended to offer relief to the client. There are also times when clients enter rehab with a doctor’s prescription in place for a drug to treat a mental or psychological disorder. To determine the total rehab costs related to prescription medication, one would also have to factor in the length of the client’s detox and therapy treatments. As a general rule of thumb, prescription drug costs can run from $1,500 up to as much as $3,000 over the entire treatment process.
A: A lot of variables come into play when trying to pinpoint the rehab costs related to residential treatment. Some of these variables include rehab facility location, amenities the rehab facility of choice offers, the length of stay, the quality of the rehab facility, and the treatment methods prescribed by staff. In a stand rehab facility, clients can expect to pay anywhere from $3,000 per month up to as much as $8,000 a month. In an upscale facility with incredible amenities, the treatment rehab costs might start at about $10,000 per month and run as high as $20,000 per month. Prospective clients will note it’s improbable an insurance company is going to cover rehab costs for an upscale treatment program.
A: Again, a lot of variables come into play when trying to pinpoint the rehab costs related to outpatient treatment. First and foremost, the outpatient treatment option chosen will significantly affect rehab costs. The three primary options include:
– Partial hospitalization (treatment consists of 5 to 7 days a week of therapy for 6 to 8 hours a day)
– Intensive outpatient (treatment consists of 3 to 5 days a week of treatment for 4 to 6 hours a day)
– Standard outpatient (treatment consists of 1 to 2 days a week of treatment for 1 to 2 hours a day)
Other than time spent in therapy, other determining factors might include the therapy method prescribed and the length of time the client figures to need treatment. For a standard outpatient treatment program that runs about three months, the total costs would be somewhere around $5,000. If the program is run from an upscale rehab facility, the total costs for a three-month program could go as high as $10,000. FYI: Insurance companies will often offer to cover 100% of outpatient treatment as an incentive for customers to avoid the more expensive residential treatment option.
A: Once someone completes treatment, they still face the possibility of relapses should their triggers and temptation distract them from sobriety. To avoid relapse, therapists recommend that departing clients take advantage of an outpatient program. If a client decides to continue with standard outpatient counseling, they can expect to pay as much as $150 per session. If they want placement is a sober living home, the cost of a sober living option usually ranges fro $1,000 per month up to as much as $10,000 per month for an upscale sober living home.?
The above information should be used as a guideline to help drive your decision-making process regarding where and when to get treatment. While getting treatment will always bring about a sense of urgency, you are encouraged to carefully consider any rehab costs you might have to pay Out-of-Pocket. That should include any co-pays, deductibles, and cost overruns you would be responsible for if you were paying your rehab costs through your healthcare insurance policy.
