Cost of addiction treatment
The cost of addiction treatment can be quite high, but it is usually influenced by a number of factors. The main factors that influence the cost of addiction treatment include:
1. Type of addiction treatment
The type of treatment you choose, for instance, will be one of the biggest contributing factors to your overall cost. Inpatient addiction treatment is typically more expensive than outpatient treatment. An average stay at an inpatient addiction treatment center can cost $700+, while outpatient centers average around $735..
2. Duration of addiction treatment
The length of time that a person spends in addiction treatment will also have a big impact on the cost of the treatment. Long-term addiction treatment is usually more expensive than short-term treatment.
3. Types of services
Finally, the services and treatments offered will also contribute to the cost of addiction treatment. Certain services will increase this cost; some services that can increase this cost include rapid detox and pharmacotherapy, as well as spa services like therapeutic massages and personal training sessions.
Find affordable addiction treatment
But can you find affordable addiction treatment? Of course you can! It’s not as difficult as one would think to find affordable addiction treatment. In fact, there are many resources that you can use to lower the cost of or help you finance addiction treatment. Where do you start looking?
The treatment centers directly
The first place to start would be the actual addiction treatment facilities themselves. Many operate on sliding scale fees, which are fees in which you only pay what you can afford to for their services. Your cost for addiction treatment is typically determined based on your income and overall financial situation.
Government programs
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator on their website that can be used to find affordable addiction treatment facilities that use sliding scale fees or honor government vouchers. Alternatively, call 1-800-662-HELP to locate a treatment center near you that is part of the national SAMHSA addiction treatment program.
Medical insurance
If you have health insurance, you can also use that to help offset the cost of addiction treatment. any insurance companies will cover a good part of your treatment costs and only require you to pay a small copay. Contact your insurance company for more information.
Medicaid
Low-income individuals might also qualify for free or very affordable addiction treatment through government programs as well. One of these programs is Medicaid. To find out if you qualify for Medicaid or other government assistance for addiction treatment, contact your county assistance office or your state’s department of health and human services.
Can I afford addiction treatment?
The short answer to this question is…everyone can afford addiction treatment. In fact, if you’re struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction, you really can’t afford not to look into addiction treatment. Successfully completing an addiction treatment program will save you a shocking amount of money in the long run.
First, consider the amount of money that you spend on alcohol or your drug of choice each week. Then, consider all of the indirect costs of your addiction that will add up over time. These include legal and medical costs, as well as money that you miss out on due to absence from or reduced productivity at work.
The economic benefits of addiction treatment greatly outweigh the initial cost. According to one study, every $1 spent on treatment resulted in an estimated $4.87 in medical savings and $7 in legal savings.
Questions about affordable addiction treatment
Affordable addiction treatment isn’t a myth; it exists, you just need to know where to find it. If you have any questions about ways to pay for addiction treatment, don’t hesitate to leave them below. We look forward to helping you along every step of your journey, starting with finding affordable addiction treatment.
Reference Sources: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Treatment Programs for Substance Use Problems
SAMHSA: Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator
SAMHSA: Acceptance of Private Health Insurance in Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities
NCBI: The Economic Costs of Substance Abuse Treatment: Updated Estimates and Cost Bands for Program Assessment and Reimbursement
SAMHSA: Cost Offset of Treatment Services
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