Rehab: How much does it cost?

Did you know that Alcohol is the number one reason that Americans seek out Rehab? As a nation, we drink much more frequently than we use any other mind-altering substance.

How does a gin and tonic compare with heroin? What about beer, our favorite brands like corona, miller, and bud lite? Meth next to bourbon or whiskey? I think we can all agree that the illicit substances are more destructive, but these familiar drinks, which are perfectly legal by the way, cause more cases of serious addiction than illegal substances. It’s time that we recognize how serious a drinking problem can get.

If you’re dependent on alcohol, or you have a family member struggling with an alcohol problem, and you’re looking for solutions, some questions about rehab might come up.

Is Rehabilitation affordable?
How much will I end up paying for treatment?
Is the price really worth it?
How will I find the money?

These are important questions to ask; money matters. A lot of times, our biggest concern when it comes to treating an addiction is cost. Unfortunately, there’s no simple price tag for alcohol treatment centers, multiple factors will affect the final cost.
In order to help you and your family plan financially for the cost of alcohol rehab, this guide will go over:

1. Payment Options: Where to find the money for Rehab
2. General price ranges for different kinds of alcohol recovery programs
3. When is rehabilitation “Worth it?”

How Much does Alcohol Rehab Cost?

Before we go over example calculations and price ranges for different services, let’s go over the most important factors that affect cost.

• Inpatient vs. outpatient: One of the first choices you have to make when it comes to rehab is between inpatient or outpatient. When you choose an inpatient program, you move into the facilities for 30-90 days. This option costs more than an outpatient program, because it includes food, lodgings, and amenities.
• Location: Similar to the way real estate prices vary by neighborhood, rehab costs also differ by location. If you choose a rehab in another state or an international facility, you will have to consider the cost of traveling as well.
• Length of Treatment: Quite simply, the longer the program the higher the costs.
• Amenities included: What level of quality are you seeking? Luxury programs including massage therapy, fine dining, and so on will cost much more than a standard, simple treatment plan.

Where will I find the Money?

Contrary to popular belief, rehab is affordable! There is a recovery option for every budget. Since addiction tends to drain our bank accounts, we might not be in the best position at the moment to pay for rehab upfront. If that’s the case, don’t worry, there are options:

• Insurance: It might surprise you, but most insurance plans will cover addiction treatment. Medicaid, Medicare, Private insurance, Military insurance, and even insurance provided by the Affordable Care Act will all cover, at least partially, the costs of addiction treatment services.
• Financing: Some facilities will offer payment plans that allow you to pay for treatment little by little once you complete your program. Banks can offer personal loans for rehab which typically have lower interest rates than credit cards.

Price Estimates

There are 3 main phases to an addiction recovery plan: Detox, Rehabilitation, and Maintenance. There are different ways to complete these stages. When we choose an inpatient program, detox assistance may be included in the price, but this depends on the individual program. Some programs may ask you to complete a separate detox program before beginning rehabilitation, as is often the case for Outpatient Rehab.

Although our numbers are only estimates, you can expect these services to fall within the listed price ranges.

Is Rehab even worth it?

If these numbers sound high to you, it’s understandable to question the true worth of rehabilitation. Most of us don’t have tens of thousands of dollars lying around; the burden of paying for rehab can be quite heavy. However, it’s important to remember that going to rehab is not gratuitous spending. It is a wise investment in our future, here’s why: Addiction costs a lot and gets us nowhere. However, the recovery that we achieve in rehabilitation programs allows us to stop wasting money, and go back to being financially independent.

Alcoholics have reported spending $5,000-$12,000 dollars per year on drinks alone. If we were to include money spent on cab rides when we’re too drunk to drive, legal fees, damaged property, stupid drunk purchases, the numbers would be astounding. Dependency on alcohol means we’re frequently under the influence or at least recovering from a horrible hangover. This means awful job performance, or worse, not being able to get a job at all. How much money have you lost by skipping work hours or being unemployed?