Alcohol treatment centers are, more often than not, too expensive for the average person to pay for out of their own pocket. At an average of $135 cost per day for outpatient treatment and $700+ per day for inpatient treatment, cost can be a barrier to getting help. So, if you have no health insurance, it may seem like you’ll never be able to get the treatment you need.
What you may not realize, however, is that there are a number of resources that uninsured individuals can use to pay for alcohol treatment centers. Depending on your situation, you may even be able to receive free or reduced cost alcohol treatment. In the following article, we’ll show you some of these options and try to point you in the right direction. Then, we invite your questions about not having insurance during alcohol treatment at the end.
Alcohol treatment without insurance
Alcohol treatment without insurance is not beyond your reach. Uninsured individuals are quite capable of seeking and completing the treatment that they need. Many are even able to get help paying for alcohol treatment without insurance.
First, however, you need to have an idea of some of the different options for those who need alcohol treatment without insurance. The list below outlines some of the more popular options and resources for the uninsured. And some unique ideas for helping offset the cost of alcohol treatment.
1. Personal financing
Alcohol treatment centers may consider financing treatment for individuals who need alcohol treatment without insurance. This usually involves you making monthly payments to the facility that you choose in order to make paying for alcohol treatment easier.
2. Borrowing money
You may also be able to borrow money to pay for alcohol treatment without insurance. For instance, family members and other loved ones may be willing to pitch in to help you pay for treatment. You might also be able to borrow money from your bank or even from your own retirement account or life insurance policy.
3. Medical tax deduction
Alcohol treatment may qualify as a medical expense and be tax deductible. Seek professional help with a tax accountant when filing your taxes in the year that you attend an alcohol treatment center.
4. Sliding scale fees
If you can’t afford alcohol treatment because you have no insurance, you may want to consider a facility that offers sliding scale fees. This allows you to pay only what you can reasonably afford for alcohol treatment, as your fees are calculated based on your income.
5. Non-profit organizations
If you need alcohol treatment without insurance, you may want to turn to non-profit organizations for a little help. Some of these organizations such as the Salvation Army offer reduced cost or free alcohol treatment. Others offer grants to help you pay for treatment. One organization to look into is Alcoholics Anonymous, which offers free group therapy for alcoholics ready to lead sober lives. You can also consider SMART Recovery, Rational Recovery, or S.O.S. for support help.
6. Government assistance
Government run alcohol treatment centers are typically much more affordable than private treatment facilities, and some may even offer free alcohol treatment to those in need. If you have a very low income, you may also qualify for Medicaid, a government program that helps low income individuals receive free – or almost free – medical care.
No insurance alcohol addiction treatment centers
Finding alcohol addiction treatment centers without insurance may not be as difficult as you believe. There are a number of different resources that you can use to find affordable alcohol addiction treatment that doesn’t require health insurance.
Getting recommendations and referrals is one of the best ways to find no insurance alcohol addiction treatment centers. You may be able to get recommendations from friends and family members that have previously been in your situation. Doctors and hospital workers will also usually be able to refer you to an alcohol treatment center.
The Internet is another excellent resource that can be used to find no insurance alcohol addiction treatment centers. A quick search for alcohol treatment centers in your area should bring up local treatment centers, and you can find out more about them on their websites. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also has a substance abuse treatment facility locator on their website at SAMHSA.gov. With this locator, you can search for local facilities that offer payment assistance and sliding scale fees.
No insurance alcohol treatment questions
Hopefully, we’ve showed you that alcohol treatment is more than possible, even if you have no insurance. However, if you still have questions about no insurance alcohol treatment, feel free to leave them below. We do our best to address each of our readers concerns in a timely manner and look forward to helping you along your journey.
Reference Sources: SAMHSA: Free Substance Abuse Treatment
SAMHSA: Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator
NCBI: Chapter 5. Outpatient Treatment Financing Options and Strategies
SAMHSA: Acceptance of Private Health Insurance in Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities
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