If you or someone you love is struggling with alcoholism, it’s essential to know the costs going into it. Alcohol addiction can be expensive, but not just in terms of dollars and cents. It’s also expensive in human misery, as alcoholics and their loved ones take on the challenging task of recovery.
The Cost of Alcohol Rehabilitation
Alcohol rehab is usually the first step in a long process of recovery from alcoholism, and it’s not cheap. A 2009 Paper by the Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) of the National Institute of Health found that the average mid-range cost for a 30-day stay at a residential rehabilitation facility for alcohol abuse was $10,433.
But different factors affect the costs of alcohol rehab. For instance, a longer stay means more time to treat the addiction and, therefore, a higher cost. Patients with a SUD (substance use disorder) are admitted for longer than those without because of the necessary additional treatments.
Some facilities opt to offer alternative payment plans or less costly insurance packages to attract more patients. The cost of alcohol rehab can also depend on geographical location since treatment centers are scarce in some areas and more abundant in others—which drives up costs through competition.
If you feel capable of paying for your alcohol rehabilitation treatment, it’s important to know the average costs before committing. The good news is that there are many options out there; the bad news is that many of them aren’t exactly cheap.
Most health insurance providers cover alcohol rehab, but that doesn’t mean it’s free. Patients will still have to pay deductibles and co-payment fees, so getting treatment out of pocket can be costly. Those with private insurance plans that don’t cover alcoholism treatment may have to pay entirely out of pocket.
Many non-insurance plans will require the patient to pay a percentage of the cost each month. For example, a patient might have to pay $50 for every treatment session, with an additional monthly medication bill required.
A common source of funding for alcohol treatment is health savings accounts (HSA). But even if you have a health savings account and funds left over, that doesn’t mean you can use it freely to pay for your addiction treatment.
Some alcoholics will qualify for help through an insurance plan if they fall under a specific category, such as low-income status or receiving government assistance. Even if you don’t qualify for assistance, you might get lucky with a treatment center that offers its services at no cost to patients. In most cases, the physician will require some proof of income and living situation to determine eligibility.
If you have coverage through Medicaid or other government healthcare programs, free treatment centers may be available. The government tries to ensure that even low-income people get the necessary treatment for their addictions.
Other alcoholics might take advantage of free treatment centers because they don’t have insurance. Many free treatment centers don’t require patients to pay anything out of pocket—as long as they qualify.
Alcoholism will likely be devastating for you and those around you. Getting support as soon as you notice that your drinking habits have become more of a burden than anything else is vital. Getting help when you initially notice problems will alleviate the elevated costs of rehabilitation later on.
Final Thoughts
Even with free alcohol treatment centers, many other expenses are associated with addiction recovery. For instance, if you lose your job or work sick because of your addiction, which takes a toll on your career, those costs can add up quickly.
Avoid trapping yourself in a cycle of addiction and denial entirely. Get support now, while you still have time to recover. You’ll refocus your energy to self-development after healing and caring for your loved ones.
Recovering from alcoholism is possible if you make a bold decision! Call us at 833-680-0165!