Rehab Cost
How Much Does Rehab Cost?
How Many People Seek Treatment For Addiction?
Approximately 21 million people in the US suffer from a form of substance use disease. Yet only about 10% of these actively seek treatment.(2)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 58,000 adults died from alcohol-related diseases and from accidents or murders that were directly related to alcohol use or abuse in 2017.(3)
In 2018, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reported that 14.4 million American adults (over 11% of the population over the age of 18) suffered from alcohol use disorder. Only 7.9% of those adults reached out for treatment for this disease.(4)
The truth is that very few Americans with addiction issues actually receive any substance abuse treatment, and still fewer receive the correct treatments to meet their needs. This is especially true for those who need inpatient or outpatient treatment for a particular substance use disorder. Yet the types of specialty treatments and supportive services found in certain facilities can be extremely important to the recovery process.(5)
Average Costs for Drug or Alcohol Rehab Treatment
The actual cost for drug or alcohol rehab can differ depending upon the treatment available, the facility type, whether detox and medications are needed, and many other factors.
On average, however, the price tag for drug or alcohol rehab can range anywhere between $3,000 and $20,000 (or higher) for 30 days of treatment.
Outpatient Rehab
There are different types of outpatient rehab available. These programs let a person continue to live at home while getting treatment for substance use disorder.
One type is an outpatient addiction treatment center, which can cost from $1,000 to $3,500 for 30 days. A person would go to this facility a number of days a week for 4-6 hours to take advantage of some of the following:
•Therapy and counseling sessions
•Self-help and 12-step programs, like Alcoholics •Anonymous
•Behavioral therapy
•Group therapy
•Family counseling
Outpatient Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)
Some outpatient programs are called partial hospitalization. Patients meet in a hospital or within the rehab facility a few days a week for 4-6 hours at a time. The cost for PHP will depend upon a patient’s medical needs. With this type of program, patients usually have access to:
•Services and professional providers connected to the hospital or facility (while they are there)
•Group therapy
•Individual counseling
•Medication management
Intensive Outpatient Treatment
This type of rehab treatment offers services that can be scheduled around a person’s work or school schedule, meeting 3 days per week for 2-4 hours each day. Its main focus is on relapse prevention.
It typically costs between $3,000 and $10,000 and includes:
•Group therapy
•Individual counseling
•Addiction education
•Medication management
•24-hour crisis help
•Community support groups
•Employment training
•Family counseling and treatment
Residential Inpatient Rehab Options
A person receiving rehab treatment for a substance use disorder in a residential program lives at the facility full-time, with meals and lodging included.
There are different levels of inpatient rehab programs, ranging from the least expensive basic facilities to more standard options.
Levels of Cost in Treatment
Lower-Cost Rehab Facilities
Choosing an inexpensive inpatient facility with few frills will save money. Such facilities will still provide the basics needed to gain and maintain sobriety. A basic residential rehab facility will usually cost between $2,000 and $7,000 for a 30-day period and will include the following:
•An intake, assessment, and evaluation session
•24/7 safe, supervised surroundings
•Shared bedroom with closet/dresser
•Daily chores assigned
•Three daily meals
•Laundry services
•Group counseling
•Addiction education
•Guidance counseling access
•12-Step meetings and assignments
Standard Inpatient Rehab Facilities
Standard rehab facilities provide residents with more services and amenities than the least expensive residential options. A standard rehab residence treatment facility will cost between $10,000 and $20,000 for a 30-day stay and will often include the following:
Accommodations
•An intake, assessment, and evaluation session
•Treatment for a dual diagnosis
•Shared bedroom with closet/dresser
•Three daily meals
•Aftercare planning
•Individual counseling sessions once or twice weekly
•Addiction education
•Exercise room access
•Creation of an individual treatment plan
•24/7 supervision
•Daily chores assigned
•Laundry services
•Sober living options
•Group therapy
•12-Step meetings and assignments
•Yoga class
Luxury Rehab Facilities
Rehab facilities in luxurious and very private settings will look and feel more like resorts than substance use treatment facilities. These are the most expensive rehab options, where comfort, beautiful views, and serenity are highly valued.
Luxury rehab can cost between $25,000 and $100,000 for a 30-day period of treatment. Residents can typically expect the following:
•An intake, assessment, and evaluation session
•Treatment for a dual diagnosis
•24/7 supervision
•No daily chores necessary
•Daily maid service
•Daily group therapy
•Weekly individual therapy
•Holistic treatments such as acupuncture or homeopathic medicine
•Outdoor and weekend activities
•Lifestyle practices for health and spiritual well-being
•Creation of an individual treatment plan
•A medical evaluation with around the clock access to medical staff
•Large private bedroom with furniture
•Three meals per day, usually provided by a gourmet chef
•Laundry service
•Daily individual counseling
•Addiction education
•On-site and off-site 12-step meetings
•Therapies, such as art, music, and equine therapy
Lowest Cost Rehab
There are some very affordable, low-cost, and even free substance abuse programs for drug and alcohol addiction available. Some are funded by state or local government sources, such as free neighborhood health clinics, hospital programs, or non-profit treatment facilities. Some private rehab treatment centers also offer no-cost scholarships to people who cannot otherwise afford treatment at their facility.
These affordable options are often subsidized using:
•Lowest Cost Rehab
•Low-income limits
•Payment assistance programs
Each person’s specific needs, insurance situation, and other sources of funding may help determine both the actual total cost for rehab and the type of facility chosen.
Detox Options
Outpatient detox may be done through a doctor’s office or at a treatment facility or day hospital program. The process can take either a few days or close to a year, depending upon the severity of the addiction.
During outpatient detox, a person can continue to live at home, go to work or school, and perform their normal daily activities. This is usually a less expensive option. The average stay at outpatient rehab is about 30 days.
Drug-free residential detox takes place in a live-in facility with the support of peers and counselors. Since no medications are used to help with withdrawal symptoms, costs are reduced. This may be fine for people recovering from mild forms of addiction. Withdrawal without medication may cause painful side effects in cases of moderate or severe forms of addiction.
The average stay at a drug-free residential facility is about 160 days.
Inpatient detox is done under the supervision of medical professionals, often using medication to help with withdrawal symptoms and to reduce cravings. Those who are suffering from addiction to alcohol, opioids, or sedatives are often referred to an inpatient facility for detox for their own medical safety.
Although safer and more comfortable than outpatient detox, inpatient detox is a bit pricier because living, dining, and other costs are involved. The average stay at an inpatient facility is about 70 days.
Luxury detox centers are more like resorts or spas. They offer upscale amenities, such as swimming pools and gyms. This is one of the most expensive ways to detox and recover, and is usually the most comfortable type of facility.
A seven-day detox program can cost between $300 and $800 or more per day, depending on the type of facility chosen and the medications needed. A week of detox may cost about $2,000-$6,000, with inpatient detox costing more than outpatient, and luxury detox costing the most.
In undergoing detox for opiates such as heroin, for instance, the drug methadone might be used to mitigate withdrawal symptoms. This medication treatment alone can last for up to a year and cost approximately $4,700.7
Detox costs can also be affected by:
•Which substances the patient is dependent upon
•How much and for how long the substance has been abused
•Whether other substances have also been used
•The patient’s age
•The patient’s general mental and physical health
•Any co-occurring disorders the patient may have
Timelines for Detox
Of course, the longer the withdrawal period takes, the more costly detox will become. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can begin within 6-24 hours after the last drink. The more serious symptoms, like hallucinations, may last up to seven days. Withdrawal from heroin and prescription opioids can take 3-5 days to subside. Cocaine withdrawal might take 1-2 weeks before symptoms fade. The timeline for someone withdrawing from benzodiazepines will vary depending on whether the drug that’s been abused is a short- or long-acting substance. For example, withdrawal symptoms for a longer-acting drug like Valium may take 1-3 days to appear. Prescription stimulant withdrawal can last for up to a week.
Every individual is different. The time it will take for any one person to complete the detox period will depend upon their particular situation.
Medication-Assisted Detox
Going through the process of cleansing the body of substances can be stressful and very uncomfortable. Some detox programs offer medications to ease the symptoms of withdrawal and lessen the intense cravings for alcohol or drugs that can sometimes occur during detox.
•Medications used during detox will increase the cost of rehab treatment to some degree. Some medications that are useful in lessening withdrawal symptoms include:
•Suboxone (buprenorphine) is a combination medication that is also used for opioid detoxification purposes. A year’s worth of Suboxone can cost upwards of $5,000.8
•Benzodiazepines are for more severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures and anxiety. Examples of benzodiazepines are Librium, Ativan, and Valium.
•Methadone, which can cost over $1700 annually, is used to help with withdrawal from opioids of abuse, like heroin.
Other Factors That Affect Overall Treatment Costs
A facility might offer an aftercare plan, which is continued treatment after recovery to keep the patient from relapsing and to help them cope with triggers. These aftercare plans may include 12-step programs, sober living homes, counseling, and support groups.
Ways to Pay For Addiction Treatment
The cost for the different types of rehab treatment for substance use can be affordable for some but beyond the financial means of others. Different programs or facilities have various methods and options for paying for this type of care.
Private Health Insurance
Many private medical insurance plans that are purchased through an employer will cover all or part of the cost for addiction treatment. Of course, each plan is different, with deductibles, co-pays, and other limits in place. Privately insured patients’ out-of-pocket expenses for rehab may be higher than those of patients with insurance purchased through the government marketplace, but private insurance plans may offer to pay for a wider variety of treatment types.
Call your insurance provider to find out what will and won’t be covered in rehab. Ask which co-pays and deductibles apply to accurately calculate out-of-pocket costs.
Rehab facilities that are in-network for an insurance provider will cost less overall.
Public Health Insurance
Health insurance plans purchased through the federal government marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act may cover most of the costs of a rehab treatment program, though some parts of rehab care might not be covered.
Medicaid, depending upon the state, will usually cover all the substance abuse and alcohol dependency treatment costs, which are incurred in following a doctor’s recommendations. Not all rehab facilities accept Medicaid.
Medicare covers substance abuse treatment under certain conditions:
•The rehab center must accept Medicare patients.
•A physician must state that treatment is medically necessary.
•A doctor must decide what the treatment plan is.
•Medicare Part B covers outpatient treatment and alcohol misuse screenings.(8)
•Medicare Part D generally covers medications needed for detox.
•Medicare Part A covers inpatient treatment.
Direct Pay Options
It’s also possible to pay for rehab directly. Some facilities have sliding scale fees, income-based fees, scholarships, or installment payment plans.
Other ways to help self-pay for rehab include:
Private Pay Options
Health Savings Account (HSA) credit or debit cards
Specialized health care loans offered by some financial organizations
•Crowdfunding websites like GoFundMe, which allow family, friends, and even strangers to contribute to expenses
•Credit cards
•Personal Loans
•Savings accounts
•Retirement Funds
•Home equity loans
- “Drug Use Estimates,” Drug War Facts.
- Josh Hafner, “Surgeon General: 1 in 7 Americans Will Face Substance Addiction,” USA Today, November 17, 2016.
- “Alcohol,” National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
- “Alcohol Facts and Statistics,” National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health.
- Rachel N. Lipari, Eunice Park-Lee, and Struther Van Horn, “America’s Need For And Receipt Of Substance Abuse Treatment in 2015,” National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, September 29, 2016.
- “Why Many People Don’t Seek Treatment for Addiction,” Narconon.
- “Is drug abuse treatment worth its cost?” Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide, Third Edition, National Institute on Drug Abuse.
- “How Much Does Rehab Cost?” Health.org, August 6, 2019.
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