In a perfect world, cost would never be a consideration when it comes to the decision to get clean and sober. Of course, if the world were truly perfect, addiction would not occur in the first place. Because the world is not perfect, the question of how much rehab costs can often present a daunting challenge to individuals who otherwise desire to recover from their addictions. The question is complicated, because there are a number of possibilities available—from luxury resort-like rehab facilities to bare bones charity-driven locations that offer the basics, and everything in between. The most important thing to know if you are seeking rehab to overcome your addiction is that you have choices.
What Affects the Price of Rehab?
The most consistent factor that determines how expensive a rehab facility will be are its amenities. While there are a number of different programs that rehabilitation centers follow, the basic cost of one program or another doesn’t vary that much. Luxury and ultra-luxury treatment centers are so expensive largely because of the fact that they offer a high-end and opulent setting during treatment. The amenities available at such high-end facilities are designed to suit the needs of the kind of clientele that attend them: high profile athletes, business professionals, celebrities, and politicians. The focus is not only on helping clientele to achieve sobriety, but to offer them a sort of home-away-from-home experience in beautiful surroundings and the utmost privacy. Many of these centers have on-site massage therapists, nail technicians, personal assistants, gourmet chefs, and more—even personal trainers and private nurses. They are also equipped to satisfy personal and special requests by their clientele, which of course increases the cost.
The more standard facilities are not necessarily barebones; while they can be thousands of dollars cheaper than the luxury rehab experience, more and more rehab facilities are incorporating some of the elements that luxury treatment facilities take for granted; part of the focus of these facilities is holistic health. As a result, more and more standard treatment facilities offer not only a place to sleep and addiction treatment, but access to amenities such as on-site swimming pools and gyms—though these are generally not the focus of the information that the facility provides prospective patients. Some facilities are also offering services such as massage therapy for an additional fee, which can be a valuable add-on to an addict who can afford it.
What Are Your Payment Options?
If you have private insurance, you should know that many insurance companies cover some or all of the rehabilitation process, within certain limits. For example, they may only cover a few different facilities in your area, or they may place a cap on the amount of money that can be spent on drug rehabilitation. Other factors that can come into play both in terms of cost and in terms of whether or not insurance will cover the treatment include the length of the program, the location, and the type of program. These are specific concerns that should be addressed with your insurer while you are making your decision.
If you do not have insurance, there are still options available. Many rehab centers offer payment plans, where you provide an initial down payment for your treatment and then make smaller payments over the course of your treatment and afterwards. There are also a number of low-cost and charity treatment centers sponsored by both the government as well as religious and civic organizations. Many neighborhood health departments offer free healthcare to individuals without insurance, and if you qualify for Medicaid or Medicare, you may be able to receive detoxification and withdrawal treatment at no cost. In addition, many churches and other non-profits offer sober living housing to individuals who are serious about getting clean and changing their lives.
Whatever option you decide on, the most important decision is the one to get sober.