Find out what rehab will cost before you book it

You or someone close to you needs help with alcohol or drugs, and the next question is money. This page is about asking the right questions before you pay, and about the free doors that exist.

Before you book a rehab, find out exactly what your insurance covers and what you would still owe, and if your cover is thin or you have none, ask a free helpline about low-cost and state-funded programs.

If you drink heavily every day, or take sedatives such as benzodiazepines, and want to stop, read the safety note above first. Stopping suddenly can be dangerous, and the first call is to a doctor, not an insurer. If you are in the UK, the NHS route is further down.

What people say about the cost

One person says rehab is expensive even with insurance, and that admissions at private facilities often work like a sales process. Some people say coverage is uneven: some plans pay in full once a deductible is met, others stop paying early, and some leave large out-of-pocket costs such as a high deductible. Some people say that some insurers are less likely to cover a first stay than a repeat one.

The US government’s health insurance site, healthcare.gov, says something firmer. All Marketplace plans, the ones sold through healthcare.gov or your state’s own marketplace, must cover substance use disorder treatment, cannot refuse you or charge you more because of a condition you already have, and cannot put yearly or lifetime dollar limits on it. It says the money limits (deductibles, copays, coinsurance and out-of-pocket limits), limits on the number of days or visits, and rules about getting approval first generally cannot be tougher than for medical and surgical care. It also says your exact benefits depend on your state and plan. If a plan still says no, you can appeal, and there is a page here called Read the denial, then appeal it.

What to ask before you commit

Ask your plan about the same things the government’s site names. What you would pay: the deductible, the copay or coinsurance, and the yearly out-of-pocket limit. How many days or visits it covers. And whether it has to approve the treatment before you start.

One person’s checklist: confirm with the insurer whether a first stay is covered, and call the number on the back of your insurance card to check that the facility is in your plan’s network. One person adds that you should check whether your county or state has programs for people whose cover is not enough.

Ask the facility, too. One person warns that a private facility may keep a patient longer than the insurance will pay for, which leaves an unexpected bill, so ask what happens to the cost if cover runs out part-way. One person points out that a day program (partial care, where you go home at night) needs a nurse only during clinical hours, not around the clock. If you may need medical help to get through withdrawal, ask whether a doctor or nurse is on site at night.

Some people warn that many rehab centers are not evidence-based and may put profit ahead of results, and one person says a facility’s promises can be bigger than what it delivers. It is fair to ask what a normal day includes, who provides each part, and what support continues after you leave. If you use opioids, or have used them, ask what happens on the day you leave: the UK government’s guide for drug workers says tolerance is low after a detox, and that advice and training on naloxone are vital in case of relapse. One person says recovery fails when someone goes back to an unhealthy environment with no support network.

Doors that cost nothing to try

In the US, SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) says its National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, every day. It is a referral and information service for people and families facing mental health or substance use problems, and it points you to local treatment, support groups and community organizations. SAMHSA says that if you have no insurance or too little, it will refer you to your state office, and that it does not provide counseling. You can also text your zip code to 435748 to find help near you, or use the online treatment locator at FindTreatment.gov.

One person says Medicaid and public programs are options, and that some counties cover the cost for people without adequate insurance. The same person says public programs may not be as high in quality as private ones.

In the UK, the NHS says a GP may be a good place to start and will usually refer you to your local drug service, or you can approach that service yourself. For alcohol, it says you can get treatment from your GP or a specialist alcohol addiction service. It says a person with a drug problem is entitled to treatment in the same way as anyone else with a health problem, and that you will need to pay for private treatment. FRANK gives advice on 0300 123 6600, 24 hours a day.

If your fresh start is a move

Some people say a change of place can feel like a reset that leaves old debts, failures and addictions behind. A move does not bring treatment with it. If you are going, look up care in the new place first. SAMHSA says you can text a zip code to 435748 to find help near that place.

Some towns and cities have offered cash to people who move there. One person says one city’s offer was meant for people who already had a remote job, not for people looking for local work. Another says a rebate was paid as a tax credit after you file, not as a check on arrival. Another says an offer was tied to particular jobs, experience levels, and a lease or purchase commitment. One person says moving costs such as a rental truck and fuel can use up most of an offer, and one says a move across the country can need around $10,000 up front. One person says not to move without a job lined up. This page could not check whether any of these programs is still running, so read the terms of any offer before you pack.

One person warns that a rental far below the going price may be a scam, and not to wire money to a landlord who will not meet you in person.

Who this page is not for

It is not for someone who is in withdrawal now, or in danger: use the numbers in the safety note above. It is not for someone who wants to know how well rehab or 12-step programs work, because this page does not judge that. If you are reading for someone else, one person says you cannot force a person to recover, and that the goal is to make sure they can reach insurance and medical care when they are ready, while you keep some emotional distance. And it is not for anyone outside the United States and the UK, where the rules and the doors are different.