The Cost for Drug Treatment

When a family member is suffering with a drug addiction, it affects everyone in more ways than one. One of the most difficult hurdles in helping a loved one is paying for the cost of drug treatment. Many drug treatment programs and rehab center options can cost thousands of dollars per month (or even per week). Paying for treatment is a challenge on a “good day”, let alone when a family has seen their finances thrown into jeopardy because of a drug addiction.

Luckily, there are ways to pay for drug and alcohol addiction treatment that does not place an impossible burden on the family. These include financing options, insurance and employee benefits that all help offset the high price tag associated with the most effective, comprehensive forms of treatment.

How much does Drug Treatment Cost?

Residential drug rehab centers are more expensive that outpatient care. These facilities have a significant overhead as they must pay for additional staff and all of the amenities commonly found in residential rehab such as catered food, exercise programs, real estate costs and maintenance costs. It is not uncommon for residential rehab (especially residential rehab) to cost thousands of dollars a month or more. On the flip side, outpatient drug treatment may end up only costing the individual several hundred dollars each month – with that figure dropping if the facility accepts insurance.

Insurance and the Cost of Drug Treatment

More and more insurance companies are covering drug treatment - -much in the same way they do other forms of psychiatric care. Most often, this coverage only extends to outpatient drug treatment centers, but there are exceptions where the insurance company pays a portion or all of the cost of a stay at a residential rehab center. It is important to check with your insurance company before selecting a drug treatment center for yourself or a family member covered under your plan.

Financing the Cost for Drug Treatment

More and more drug treatment centers are working with private lenders to help families offset the cost of rehab. Most commonly, the drug treatment facility will partner with a private lender to provide individual with a payment plan for the cost of treatment. Much like a car loan, the individual will receive the product (treatment) and then be expected to pay for it every month. Financing a drug treatment stay does not eliminate the cost of course, but it does give the family a chance to “catch its breath” financially before being saddled with the burden of paying for the entire bill.

Employers and Paying for the Cost of Drug Treatment

Finally, many companies have recognized that they have a stake in the recovery of their trusted employees. Rather than fire the individual (which may be against the law) with a drug addiction, it is a smarter investment to help pay for their addiction treatment and get them back to their highest levels of productivity. The cost of locating and retaining a new employee is simply too great – and after all, helping another person in need is the right thing to do.