How much does rehab cost?

When you’re considering addiction treatment, it’s natural to wonder what to expect financially. The cost of rehab can vary widely depending on the type of care you need (residential treatment, outpatient programs or mental health treatment programs), the facility you choose, and whether you use insurance or other forms of assistance.

If you’re curious about the cost of outpatient and inpatient rehab, you’re not alone. There are many factors that can determine the average cost of a stay in rehab. Here, we’ll explore some of the considerations that can determine the total cost of your stay.

Length of addiction rehab stay

Your alcohol and drug rehab cost will largely depend on the amount of time you spend receiving treatment. Most inpatient and outpatient programs offer 30, 60, and 90-day treatment options. Your healthcare provider and treatment team will work with you to determine what length of treatment is the right fit for your needs.

Level of drug and alcohol rehab

The level of addiction rehab you choose can greatly affect overall treatment costs. Inpatient programs are typically more expensive than outpatient rehab. Medical detox within your residential or outpatient treatment center may also add to the total cost of rehab.
Higher-intensity outpatient treatment (like partial hospitalization programs or outpatient intensive treatment) are usually more expensive than standard outpatient care. The level of treatment that makes sense for you can depend on a variety of factors, including whether you need mental health treatment, the severity of your addiction, and whether you have a solid support system at home.

Treatment facility location

Like all goods and services, addiction treatment tends to be more expensive in areas with a higher average cost of living, and tends to be less expensive in areas with a lower average cost of living. People who live in a high cost of living area and are seeking treatment for substance use disorder may be able to save money by researching drug addiction treatment facilities in lower cost of living areas.

Individual patient needs

Patients who have special needs, such as medication assisted treatment (such as methadone treatment), medication management, mental health treatment, or certain physical health needs may incur higher treatment costs than those who do not have such needs. If you have specific physical or mental health disorders, be sure to talk with the admissions team at your facility to ensure that your needs can be addressed. In some cases, addiction treatment may include medications for opioid or alcohol use disorder, or psychiatric medications for co occurring mental health conditions. These medications can add to the overall cost of rehab, depending on the type of medication and length of use.

Treatment center amenities

Treatment center amenities may contribute to your overall rehab cost. Amenities like massage therapy, animal-assisted therapy, chef-prepared meals, and holistic medicine may increase out of pocket costs. Staying in a private room may also increase the total cost of your rehab treatment. Some drug and alcohol rehab centers may also offer optional amenities, like experiential therapy, for an additional cost.

Health insurance coverage

The Affordable Care Act requires that all major insurance providers offer at least some coverage for mental health care, including addiction rehab treatment. This means that some or all of the cost of rehab may be covered by your insurance provider. Using insurance to cover some or all of your rehab treatment costs can make a major difference in the amount you’ll pay out of pocket.
To learn more about your coverage, you can call the number on the back of your insurance card, or you can work with the admissions team at your rehab facility to verify your coverage and learn about your benefits.

If you’re struggling to justify the cost of substance abuse treatment, you’re not alone. Getting help with addiction can be expensive, and it can be difficult to decide whether it makes sense to reach out for professional help.

That being said, the cost of drug and alcohol addiction over a lifetime has a far higher average cost than the price of addiction treatment. The amount of money spent on drugs and/or alcohol—paired with the potential costs of legal troubles, work problems, relationship issues, and medical bills due to addiction-related health issues—far outweigh inpatient or outpatient treatment costs.

In a word: yes. While drug and alcohol rehab help you get away from the people, places, and things that trigger the urge to use or drink, the benefits of substance abuse treatment go far beyond the immediate distancing from drugs and alcohol.

When you attend outpatient or inpatient rehab, you’ll get to work closely with addiction professionals in individual and group therapy settings, where you’ll be able to delve into the trauma, mental health issues, and/or stressors that led to alcohol and/or drug abuse.

Therapists at rehab centers will help you develop coping strategies and new thought patterns that will serve your well-being for a lifetime—not just for the time you spend getting treatment for alcohol and drug abuse.

Whether you choose to explore residential treatment programs or outpatient programs, you’ll get to work with trained therapists who will help you unpack years of behaviors that have halted your sobriety. From family systems to disordered thought patterns, your therapist will help you get the mental health treatment you need for lasting recovery.