Are you worried about your drug or alcohol abuse? Have you been thinking about getting treatment but have more questions than solutions? Deciding to finally get help for your addiction is a major step in your life. It can be the thing you need to finally regain control of your personal relationships, career, and overall health.

Of course, sifting through the many drug rehab options can be overwhelming. What type of program is right for you? How will you deal with the difficult withdrawal symptoms and the issues causing your addiction? And, as many people wonder, how will you pay for treatment?

Sometimes just the thought of paying for treatment can keep people from getting the help they truly need. Instead of thinking of drug treatment as a financial burden, you should adopt a new mindset. Drug treatment is an investment in a better future.

Think of how much money you spend on your drug of choice. Depending on the drug and how much you use, it could be costing you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars a month. Consider the time missed from work, poor money decisions you made while high, and health or legal bills. As you can see, your drug use probably costs more than you realize.

Of course, even with this in mind, some are still reluctant to take on the expense of drug treatment. They may fear that more debt can put additional burdens on their already stretched family budget. There are options available when it comes to paying for treatment. Some you may never even have considered. Let’s take a look at some ways you can pay for drug rehab.

paying for addiction treatment

Health Insurance

If you have health insurance through an employer or from the Health Insurance Marketplace, chances are that insurance will pay for at least part of these services. In many cases, the amounts covered will vary depending on your personal insurance plan and the state where you live. By checking out your summary of benefits—usually at the behavioral health section—you could see just how much is covered for your drug treatment. If you review your summary-of-benefits statement and can’t understand all the insurance lingo, calling your insurer puts you in touch with a representative who can clearly explain your coverage.

In most cases, you will have to pay some out-of-pocket expenses. For example, if you attend outpatient therapy or counseling services, you may be required to cover a copay for each visit. Inpatient programs often cover a percentage of your stay, but you will be required to pay the rest.

If you do have health insurance, you want to make sure the treatment facility you choose is in their network. Out-of-network facilities will often cost you much more. In some cases, insurance may not even cover facilities that aren’t in their network. Check out the following for more information about insurance coverage of drug and alcohol rehab:

Payment Plans

If you are uninsured or your insurance company doesn’t cover the cost of drug rehab, you can contact the facility of your choice. Some offer sliding-scale fees based on your income, net worth, or credit history. Others offer payment plans that allow you to slowly pay off the cost of your treatment in manageable monthly bills. It never hurts to make a quick call and see if these option are available.

Use Some of Your Savings

While you may be a little worried to dip into your savings to pay for drug rehab, remember, it is an investment in your future. Once you get sober, you will probably be thinking much more clearly and be able to be more productive in your career. Couple that with the money you save by not using drugs or alcohol, and you may be able to replenish your savings more quickly than you expected.

Get a Loan from a Loved One

If you know someone who can help cover some of the costs for addiction treatment, you may want to ask for some assistance. This can be an embarrassing conversation, but you may be surprised at how those who truly care for you want to see you thrive. Of course, you should only do this if you are truly committed to your recovery. You don’t want to waste your loved one’s money if you don’t want to make the effort to begin your sobriety.

Get Help from the Government

Those in lower income brackets may be able to get some of their drug rehab paid for by the government. Financial assistance through government subsidies may be a possibility to pay for some of your treatment. Find out how the government can help you.

Use Your Credit Card

Although this is not the best option, given current credit-card interest rates, it can be an option if you have no other choice. If possible, try to open a credit card account with a low introductory rate to save yourself money in the long run. Do your best to avoid only paying the minimum monthly payments. This can make paying off your debt take years and seem overwhelming.

There Are Always Options for Paying for Drug Treatment

Don’t let the costs of drug rehab keep you from getting the help you need. As you can see, there are many options to make drug treatment accessible to you.

Last updated: March 9, 2023