Entering rehab for a drug or alcohol addiction is often the first step on a lifelong journey toward freedom. You’ve already made the choice not to let your addiction control you anymore. But, the last thing on your mind as you enroll should be how you’re going to pay for it. Unfortunately, the cost of treatment will come up at some point.
Thankfully, you may be able to use your health insurance to cover your alcohol treatment or drug treatment. Before you enroll, however, there are a few important things you should know about how health insurance works with rehab.
What You Should Know About Health Insurance and Rehab
Your focus right now should be on overcoming your addiction and getting the help you need. So, to avoid feeling overwhelmed about using insurance to cover rehab, there are a few basic things to know before you get started.
Before you officially enroll in a rehab program, it’s important to find out the following information:
- Will the facility accept your insurance?
- Does your insurance cover rehab programs?
- Which areas of the program will your insurance cover?
Thankfully, a few phone calls can usually answer these questions for you quickly. Even if your insurance covers things like Kentucky addiction treatment, the facility you’re looking at may not accept it. So, don’t be afraid to look around at your options until you find the right facility that will accept your insurance and make the financial experience less of a burden for you.
Understanding Payments and Agreements
It’s important to look over the logistics of how your insurance will handle your treatment. Before enrolling, talk with both your insurance provider and the rehab facility to determine how payments will be made.
In some cases, you might need to pay certain fees upfront that will later be reimbursed by insurance. In others, your provider may make payments directly to the facility.
Don’t be afraid to read the fine print on any contracts before you sign them, and learn the ins and outs of your insurance, including any rules that you may not have been aware of. For example, if your health insurance is provided through your job and you have to leave work for an extended period of time, make sure your benefits won’t expire and that your coverage will continue while you’re not working.
These precautions and preparations can seem a bit overwhelming at first, especially if you’re struggling. But, taking care of them before you enter a rehab program will make the transition into enrollment much easier, and you can focus solely on your treatment instead of worrying about how you’ll pay for it.
Finding Other Financial Solutions
In some cases, your healthcare insurance may not pay for the treatment needed at a rehab facility. But, don’t lose hope. There are other financial options you may be able to take to get the help you need.
For starters, once you learn how much the treatment will cost, you might find that you can pay for it yourself. Borrowing money from someone else is also an option. People who care about you are likely to be happy to help in any way possible.
Finding ways to make payments is another possible solution. You may be able to put the cost of the treatment on a credit card or take out a small loan that you can pay back over time. Or, talk to a counselor at the facility and ask about possible payment plans for your treatment.
The cost of rehab should never be the sole reason you choose not to get the treatment you need. There are always options to consider when it comes to funding your time in rehab. But, the best place to start is by calling your health insurance provider and speaking with a representative about what they cover.
