September 19, 2022
Don’t have money for rehab? There are free and subsidized treatment programs. Read this article to know how you can enter rehab with no money.
Addiction is a severe mental health issue that cannot just go untreated. It’s not like the flu that can go away in a few days. Without proper intervention, it can affect the addict’s quality of life. However, drug addiction treatment can be expensive.
Financial constraints are one of the main reasons why some people don’t go to rehab, especially those with mouths to feed or no income. A full-cost treatment can range from $15,000 to $27,000, depending on the services prescribed. Medication is not yet included in that estimate.
However, having no money for rehab doesn’t mean that you can't access treatment programs. State-funded programs, scholarships and grants, and health insurance can help cover full or partial rehab costs. Moreover, you can also obtain short-term financing or sign-up in non-profit rehab centers as secondary options if government-funded services don’t fit.
Health is wealth, and mental health is as important as physical health. Since addiction is a mental health condition, the only way to treat it is by receiving professional care. There are no over-the-counter drugs that can treat this disease, like how Tylenol treats fever. It is a given that rehab is expensive. But with government and private programs listed below, you can access free or subsidized rehab treatments.
Some organizations and entities receive government money from tax dollars to fund detox, rehab, and other addiction treatment programs for people who can’t afford treatment. The most accessible way to access drug rehab for someone without money is through government-funded rehab programs. These programs can cover inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, and follow-up treatments.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) or otherwise known as Obamacare, offers access to affordable health insurance for Americans with low-income or low-quality insurance coverage. The ACA now includes mental health treatment coverage for mental and behavioral health disorders. The ACA specifies that addiction treatment coverage must be complete as with any other medical procedure.
Hence, Obamacare covers the following:
ACA-sponsored plans don’t cover 100 percent of addiction expenses. The coverage depends on your plan.
To qualify for ACA, your income must be between the federal poverty level (FPL). You can get ACA tax credits if your income is between four times the FPV. You can get this insurance plan in any Health Insurance Marketplace.
Domestic public and private non-profit entities get grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration or SAMHSA. Grants from SAMHSA can sponsor your addiction treatment if you don’t have insurance coverage or can’t pay for private treatments. Don’t misconstrue this as SAMHSA giving money for rehab to individuals. Mental health facilities apply to SAMHSA to provide free or subsidized treatments to deserving patients.
You need to approach mental health facilities near you and ask if they have SAMHSA grants. Underinsured individuals can get additional scholarships to provide additional coverage for the treatment. The kind of assistance you’ll get from facilities with SAMHSA grants highly depends on your financial status and insurance coverage. Expect to receive partial assistance if not full assistance.
Medicare is a medical insurance program for Americans aged 65, persons with disabilities, or dialysis patients. If you don’t qualify for any of the three, you must go with Medicaid. Medicare covers alcoholism and drug addiction treatment, including inpatient and outpatient treatments. Treatments included in Medicare are psychotherapy, patient education, post-hospitalization follow-up, outpatient drugs, inpatient drugs, and structured assessment and brief intervention.
On the other hand, Medicaid coverage varies on a lot of factors. It considers your state of residence, desired facility for treatment, length of treatment, and current insurance coverage. Addiction therapy and counseling are also part of Medicaid coverage. To set your expectations, the most likely scenario is that Medicaid may cover only a certain percentage of addiction expenses.
If you have private insurance, you can use it to fund your drug treatments. However, the coverages differ in many insurance companies. Most insurance companies include addiction treatment in their plans, so you don’t have to worry. If unsure, you should contact your insurance provider to confirm if they cover addiction treatments.
As to the coverage, the amount covered and the kinds of disorders included vary depending on your policy. Some policies have a wide array of treatment plans, while others only provide basic ones. You can review your health insurance policy document to check the details of addiction treatment. You only need to go to an accredited facility and present any proof of coverage, but you may need to pay the amount outside the coverage.
Financing your addiction treatment is the only way to get money for rehab. Since this is a financing agreement or loan, you’ll borrow money from a lending institution to pay for your addiction expenses. Afterward, you’ll have to settle the amount in a lump sum or equal installments. You can use financing if you don’t have enough cash to cover treatments.
The only disadvantage of this option is the cost of borrowing money. You’ll be paying interest based on your credit score plus processing fees. Alternatively, you can use your credit card to apply for installment programs.
You can go to non-profit rehab centers if you can’t access state-funded treatments and short-term financing. Most non-profit rehab centers are faith-based, so choosing a facility aligned with your religious belief is best. Since this is non-profit, it can be free, or you might still need to pay a small amount.
Addiction treatment is more accessible in the US because of laws that include addiction and mental health treatment in insurance policies. The government can help you pay for these treatments through state programs if money for rehab is a problem. Alternatively, you can borrow money to finance your treatment or join a non-profit rehab entity.
Another Chance offers a pathway to new possibilities through addiction rehab in Portland. We accept patients who are policyholders of major insurance providers. We offer various addiction treatment programs — partial hospitalization, full outpatient, drug abuse counseling, and of course, substance abuse recovery in our addiction treatment center.Learn more about our programs and insurance partners today. Call us at (971) 272-8968 to get started.
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