C Drug Information

Paying for Drug Treatment

Finding ways to pay for treatment to recover from dependence on alcohol or drugs takes some research. Addiction treatment can be quite costly and the wrong program can be ineffective. The severity and duration of the substance a person abuses and the type of treatment the person requires all contribute to the costs.
Some treatment for drug and alcohol dependence costs more than others. Residential treatment is more expensive than outpatient treatment. The location of the facility, amenities offered and staffing also influence treatment costs. Chronic alcoholism or drug abuse may require longer-term treatment and that can become very costly depending on the treatment facility.

Private Insurance

The most commonly used payment for drug and alcohol treatment is through private insurance. The insurance coverage may pay for some or a great portion of the drug and alcohol treatment program. The websites of some addiction treatment centers may mention specific insurance carriers, particularly if the facilities are preferred addiction treatment centers for national insurance companies such as Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna and others. Whether or not private insurance covers any portion of drug and alcohol treatment depends on whether the facilities are ERISA or non-ERISA plans. The Employee Retirement and Income Security Act (ERISA) is a federal law that sets standards for certain health plans offered by employers. If the plan is ERISA, it may or may not cover drug and alcohol treatment, as it is not required to. Non-ERISA plans and other group health plans, are required to provide at least four inpatient detox admissions (of up to 7 days each) in a lifetime, at least 30 days per year (lifetime 90 days) of non-hospital residential treatment and at least 30 days a year of partial hospitalization or outpatient services.

Military Insurance

Members of the armed services who need alcohol or substance abuse treatment may have some or most of the costs paid for through military insurance.

Medicare, Medicaid and Medical

Many treatment facilities advertise that accepting Medicare, Medicaid and Medical. Medicare Part A covers some drug and alcohol treatment received at a hospital (including room, meals, nursing and some other services), while Part B covers some services provided by alcohol and drug professionals (inpatient or outpatient), lab tests, partial hospitalization and outpatient therapies. Be aware that Medicare does not cover the total cost of most treatment and services and patients pay deductibles and co-payments.

Self Payment

The two major things to consider when evaluating self payment for addiction treatment are that the first attempts at drug and alcohol treatments do not always work. Ongoing addiction usually has high mental and financial costs as well as increased risk for other problems.

Personal Savings

It may come down to the having to tap into personal savings to pay for rehab treatment, especially if a person has a high insurance deductible, no insurance at all, does not qualify for scholarships or does not want to take out a loan. Again, be sure to find out exactly what the cost break down is to estimate if it will exhaust a savings account.

Family Assistance in Paying

Asking family for assistance to pay for the drug and alcohol treatment can be an option. If a person is genuinely committed to quitting the abuse, family members may be willing to help. If the aunt or uncle says that rehabilitation treatment will be a loan, be sure to draw up a loan agreement and make good on the promise to pay them back.

Creative Payments

One-Time Pay Assistance

Some treatment centers offer some type of financial assistance on a one-time-only basis.

Scholarships

Several drug and alcohol treatment centers in California offer scholarships to those individuals who cannot afford to pay for treatment out of pocket or who do not have insurance. In fact, some of these treatment facilities may be required to make a certain number of beds available for scholarship recipients as part of state licensing requirements--depending on what type of license the facility has. If a person qualifies for a scholarship, it will pay for the entire cost of the treatment. Scholarships are for those individuals who really have no other option.

Effective Treatment Duration

Treatment must last long enough to produce stable behavioral changes. In treatment, the drug abuser is taught to break old patterns of thinking and behaving and to learn new skills for avoiding drug use and criminal behavior. Individuals with severe drug problems and co-occurring disorders typically need longer treatment e.g., a minimum of 3 months and more comprehensive services. Early in treatment, the drug abuser begins a therapeutic process of change. In later stages, the individual addresses other problems related to drug abuse and learns how to manage the problem.

Assessment is the First Step in Treatment

A history of drug or alcohol use may suggest the need for a specialist to conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine the nature and extent of the drug problems of an individual, and establish whether problems exist in other areas that may affect recovery and enable the formulation of an appropriate treatment plan. Personality disorders and other mental health problems are prevalent in offender populations. Comprehensive assessments should include mental health evaluations with treatment techniques that plan for these problems.