When you make the courageous decision to treat your addiction, a lot of obstacles may cross your mind.
Will you have to take time off work to treat your addiction? How will you pay for this? Paying for treatment is not something that should stand in the way between you and the help that you need. To help pay for addiction treatment, it is helpful to know the following tips.
Determine What Level of Treatment You Need
To determine what level of treatment you will need, you’ll need to get an assessment from a treatment center, therapist, or addiction medicine practitioner. Many treatment facilities offer free, confidential assessments to help you determine what you need. Residential programs will cost more, because more care is provided, while outpatient care will probably cost less as you pay for sessions individually. After knowing what kind of care will be best for your recovery, you can figure out your budget and find the necessary resources, such as insurance or even fundraising, to help you cover it.
Understand Your Insurance Benefits
Do you have health insurance? If so, your treatment may be partially or totally covered. Due to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act that was passed in 2008, insurance providers are now required to cover mental health and substance abuse treatment the same way that they would cover medical or surgical care. Call your insurance company to see what your plan will cover for you. If you’re not sure how to do this, most drug treatment centers can do this for you. At Twin Lakes, we accept all major insurance providers, including but not limited to: Anthem Blue Cross, United Healthcare, Aetna, and Cigna.
Additionally, the Affordable Care Act can help you pay for your treatment as well. Under the Affordable Care Act, drug and alcohol disorders are included in the ten essential health benefits. As soon as your coverage under the Affordable Care Act begins, your treatment will be covered.
According to the Addiction Center, depending on what plan you select, 60-90 percent of your treatment will be covered by the Affordable Care Act.
Consider Fundraising
If you’re not afraid to share your story, you could also write a column about your struggle with addiction and your desire to improve your life, then use this to create a Gofundme page. Fundraising could help you close the gap between what your insurance can cover and what you can cover.
State-Funded Rehabilitation Programs
State-funded rehabilitation programs can provide you with a more affordable option for treatment. These vary from state to state; therefore, you’ll have to do a little research to see if you qualify in your state, or if you can meet the qualifications in another state. The waiting lists for these types of programs can be extensive, so if you can, plan ahead. The Salvation Army also offers Adult Rehabilitation; however, you must be willing to work for them to pay for your room and board if you are seeking in-patient care.
Don’t Give Up
If none of these options will work for you, or if you still need to pay more than you’re able to even after coverage, there are still resources available to you to help you pay for your treatment. Again, don’t let the expense stop you from seeking treatment. Getting treatment is an important investment you need to make in yourself. At Twin Lakes, we can work with you to come up with a payment plan to help you afford treatment. Contact us to find out more about how we can help.
Seeking treatment to help you battle your addiction is one of the bravest things that you could do. The finances behind addiction treatment can be daunting, but they are not impossible to conquer. Do not let finance stand in the way between you and a healthier lifestyle. Use these resources to help you finance your treatment. Do your research, be creative, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. This is an investment that you need to make for yourself, and there are people who are willing to help you make it.
Reference:
“How Do I Pay for Addiction Treatment?”. February 21, 2018. Retrieved from URL: https://www.addictioncenter.com/rehab-questions/paying-for-treatment/
