Addiction treatment programs have a wide range of potential costs. Some clients may receive free addiction care, while others may pay tens of thousands of dollars.
Multiple factors determine the cost of drug and alcohol addiction treatment, including insurance coverage, levels of care, location, and specific treatment options.
How To Determine The Cost Of Addiction Healthcare
Because different treatment plans have different costs, the best way to learn the cost of care is to contact potential treatment centers directly.
The treatment provider can help you determine how much you can expect to pay, such as whether the facility accepts your health insurance plan and has payment options such as long-term payment plans.
How Much Does Addiction Treatment Cost By Level Of Care?
You can also estimate the cost of drug and alcohol rehab programs through the level of care you will be receiving, with more intensive levels of care usually costing more.
Estimated Cost Of Medical Detox
Medical detoxification (medical detox) is a type of medical care that clients may receive before beginning addiction treatment.
During this process, healthcare professionals monitor the client in case of an emergency and provide medications to ease withdrawal symptoms.
Not every person who participates in addiction treatment will need detox services, but for those who do, services can cost up to $800 per day, depending on the program.
Potential Cost Of Inpatient Treatment
During inpatient treatment, the client stays at the treatment facility 24/7 while they receive care. This type of substance abuse treatment can cost as little as $5,000 and as much as $20,000.
Residential Treatment Average Costs
Residential programs are similar to inpatient programs, but they are less intensive, take place in a home-like environment, and often last longer.
Residential programs may cost up to $80,000, but the average cost is closer to $42,500.
Outpatient Treatment Average Costs
There are three primary types of outpatient treatment with different levels of intensiveness.
These types of outpatient treatment are:
- partial hospitalization programs (PHP): the most intensive form of outpatient care
- intensive outpatient programs (IOP): the second most intensive form of outpatient care
- standard outpatient programs (OP): the least intensive form of outpatient care
Some people only ever attend one type of outpatient program, while others begin with partial hospitalization and “step down” through the less intensive care options.
Standard outpatient programs have an average cost of $5,700 per month, but the cost of addiction treatment rises with more intense care.
Some outpatient programs, such as office-based methadone clinics, offer care at a lower cost.
Additional Factors Affecting Addiction Treatment Costs
One reason why drug dependency treatment has such a wide range of costs is because multiple factors impact the price of drug treatment.
For example, a state-funded treatment provider will generally cost less money than a private treatment provider.
Likewise, luxury addiction treatment services, which may include amenities such as private rooms, have a higher cost than average.
Location also impacts what a person may pay for addiction services. A state with a higher cost of living, such as California or Florida, may have higher treatment costs than many other states.
Does Health Insurance Cover Substance Use Disorder Treatment?
While the cost of addiction treatment is high, many health insurance companies do cover behavioral health services such as substance abuse care.
Insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act, for example, generally may not limit mental health care coverage more than physical health care coverage.
Other insurance options include:
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- TRICARE (military insurance)
- private insurance
What If I Can’t Afford Drug Rehab Center Costs?
If you are uninsured or underinsured, finding affordable drug and alcohol abuse treatment can be difficult. However, you do have some options.
These include:
- long-term payment options
- free or reduced-cost addiction programs
- free support groups and other peer support services
- self-pay discounts
Look for addiction treatment centers that offer scholarships, payment plans, or sliding fee scales, which base the cost of treatment on clients’ income levels, so that people earning less pay less.
Get Help For Alcohol Or Drug Addiction Today
Addiction is a complex and difficult health condition, but treatment options are available. If you or a loved one experience addiction, contact Free Rehab Centers today to learn more.
Published on October 18, 2023
Free Rehab Centers aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available.
These include peer-reviewed journals, government entities and academic institutions, and leaders in addiction healthcare and advocacy. Learn more about how we safeguard our content by viewing our editorial policy.
- National Center For Drug Abuse Statistics — Average Cost Of Drug Rehab
https://drugabusestatistics.org/cost-of-rehab/ - National Institute On Drug Abuse (NIDA) — How Much Does Opioid Treatment Cost?
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/medications-to-treat-opioid-addiction/how-much-does-opioid-treatment-cost - Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) — What Does The Affordable Care Act Mean For Behavioral Health?
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/samhsa_infographic2_final_banner_rev_r111314b.pdf
