How much does inpatient rehab cost?

Is inpatient rehab expensive?

Yes, inpatient rehab can be expensive. In fact, the average cost of inpatient addiction rehab in the U.S. is around $700-750 per day. It is no wonder the biggest reported barrier to addiction treatment is the cost.

However, inpatient rehab does not have to be expensive. The price you pay to receive rehab treatment will depend on the duration of the program and your stay, facility, amenities, your funding source and health insurance coverage. And there are ways to lower the costs.

Inpatient rehab: How much does it cost?

The costs associated with inpatient rehab vary from center to center. Inpatient treatment cost can be as low as $2-$3,000 for a 28 day program. However, prices can also go up to 20K or more.

A decade ago, over one hundred rehabs were evaluated as part of the Drug Abuse Treatment Cost Analysis Program (DATCAP). This study found that:

• Inpatient/Residential adult programs with an average stay of 13 weeks cost nearly $800 or an average of $10K per treatment episode (per person per week).
• Inpatient/Residential adolescent program with an average stay of 8 weeks cost about $1295 per week. That’s a similar cost of just over $10K per treatment episode.

Is inpatient rehab tax deductible?

YES!

You may be able to deduct expenses you paid in a financial year for medical care related to inpatient rehab. Medical expenses (doctor fees, medications, inpatient treatment, or health insurance premiums) are tax deductible for you, a spouse, or dependents. This can be a complicated process so it is best to get tax help when working out what you can claim.

Is inpatient covered by insurance?

It depends.

Generally, health insurance providers view addiction treatment skeptically. Unfortunately, health insurance coverage for inpatient rehab services varies greatly from one provider to another and from one policy to another. Many insurance companies set limits on how many days of treatment they will pay for, or the level of treatment that is covered, or the costs of treatment. Some insurers only cover part of the cost of a residential treatment facility. Treatment options may be limited to facilities that accept payment through your insurer.

Let’s verify your coverage for treatment at an American Addiction Centers location. Your information is always confidential.

Will MediCare pay for inpatient rehab?

YES!

But before Medicare will cover the costs of inpatient rehab, your stay must meet all of the following critera:

1.  A doctor must make an official order which says you need inpatient hospital care to treat your illness or injury (in this case, addiction).
2.  You need the kind of care that can be given only in a hospital.
3.  The facility accepts Medicare.

Before booking in for inpatient rehab, it is a good idea to verify your MediCare benefits. Many facilities have intake counselors who can work with you to have your benefits verified. If MediCare won’t cover inpatient rehab, you may be able to qualify for a sliding scale fee based on your income.

Is inpatient rehab free?

Inpatient rehab is rarely free due to the nature of the program. Residential costs of room and board can build up. However, you can apply for low cost or very low cost inpatient rehab through your state’s federally funded substance abuse referral program. But the process can be tedious and require lots of follow up. Especially if someone does not pick up the phone.

You can find out more information about federally funded services near you by contacting your state’s Department of Health and Human Services or by looking up the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator at http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov Here are some detailed steps that can help:

1. Call the National Drug Abuse Hotline number. 1-800-662-HELP

2. Tell them you’re looking for low cost, sliding scale inpatient rehab. Tell them where you live. This information will remain anonymous. Get the phone number for your state’s federally funded substance abuse treatment agency, a division within the state’s Department of Health and Human Services.

3. Call your state’s Department of Health/Substance Abuse Division and get the phone number for your district’s substance abuse service administration. Districts are usually counties or groups of counties that operate within a state’s budget.

4. Call the district substance abuse service clinic to set up an initial intake appointment in the county in which you reside. Complete the drug use assessment. Each county provides different services and you usually have to have proof of residence to access your state’s services.

Sliding scale inpatient rehab cost assessments

Inpatient rehab centers may also offer a sliding scale fee. This means that you may be able to pay for treatment at a lower cost based on what you can afford. In these circumstances, an admissions offers will usually complete a financial assessment before offering lower prices for addiction rehab. You may be asked to provide evidence of your financial situation. This usually include bank statements and a payroll or salary stub.

Inpatient rehab financial aid and assistance

Financial aid from an inpatient rehab may come in the form of a scholarship. Some centers will also help you set up a payment plan. It is always a good idea to phone or visit an inpatient rehab center and ask them a few questions about costs and how you can access financial aid.

Some questions to ask before you enter rehab:

• •    Is this program covered by Medicaid or Medicare?
• •    Am I covered by my health insurance?
• •    Can I claim any of this treatment at tax time?
• •    Do you offer a sliding fee scale?
• •    Do I have to pay upfront or can I pay incrementally?

Often, a referring doctor will have some answers to these questions. If not, we are here to help.

Inpatient rehab cost questions

Still have questions about the cost of inpatient rehab? Contact us if you have any questions.

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Reference Sources: SAMSHA: Substance Abuse Treatment Directory

MediCare: Your MediCare Coverage

MediCare: Inpatient mental health care

IRS: Tax topics on health care deductions

About the author

Lee Weber

Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.