How to Pay for Rehab When You’re Uninsured
One unfortunate side effect of addiction is that it has a way of destroying one’s financial stability well before it begins to have a serious effect on one’s health. And when drugs and alcohol are the first or only thing on your mind, getting insured is probably one of the last things you’re interested in.
Tragically, this means that a good number of the people who get in touch with us at Dallas Drug Treatment Centers are without insurance of any kind. One can only imagine how many others refuse to seek help precisely because they are uninsured.
However, being uninsured is not the end of the story by any means. Now, more than ever, ordinary Americans have more financing options available to them. Even better, advances in rehab practice have increased the number of effective yet low-cost options available.
If you’re uninsured and need help with a drug or alcohol problem, here are some things you should consider.
1.) Look at outpatient options
Residential rehab is generally far more expensive than outpatient treatment. While most drug treatment experts will recommend residential treatment to minimize your exposure to substance use triggers, it is not strictly necessary in all cases, especially in mild or moderate substance use disorders. These programs are also far more affordable, as they do not have to pay for 24/7 staffing or exclusive facilities.
Perhaps the most attractive thing about choosing an outpatient program is that most of them will allow you to keep working throughout the treatment period. This is especially important, the setup of most residential programs makes it impossible to work, even on a remote basis.
2.) Look for SAMSHA grants
In the United States, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) offers financial assistance to qualified individuals in the form of grants. You can visit the SAMSHA grants page to find out if you qualify. Likewise, you can also check out your state and city’s services to find out if they offer similar grants as well.
3.) Research free rehabs
While it’s incredibly difficult to get a slot these days due to the extremely high demand and the critical shortage of addiction treatment professionals, you might still be able to get treatment through charitable institutions. You can consider asking your pastor, priest, rabbi, or another religious leader to help you find free programs relevant to your condition.
4.) Check out sliding scale programs
More commonplace than free rehabs are programs that offer a “sliding scale” payment structure. With these arrangements, patients generally pay what they can. Please not that the specifics of these programs may differ. You can get in touch with our team at Dallas Drug Treatment Centers to find sliding scale programs that better suit your specific situation.
5.) Reduce your fees through Affordable Care Act Insurance or Medicaid
If you are an American citizen, you may qualify for insurance under the Affordable Care Act. You may also be qualified to receive assistance through Medicaid. Specifics on who exactly is qualified may change from time, so be sure to look at updated sources when doing your research.
6.) Use a fundraising site
A growing number of Americans are raising \ and other healthcare expenses through GoFundMe and other similar crowdfunding sites. Sites more specifically designed for crowdfunding medical bills include MedGift and JustGiving.
7.) Get in touch with loved ones
You probably considered this already. It’s not unusual for people with drug or alcohol problems to be hesitant to get in touch with loved ones for financial assistance. This is especially the case if your relationships have already deteriorated for one reason or another. Pride or shame at having a drug or alcohol use disorder may also cause you to hesitate to ask for their help.
While the choice to seek their assistance is ultimately up to you, it’s critical to not discount family when looking for ways to fund your rehab. After all, this is your health that is on the line, and whether or not you receive treatment can be a matter of life or death.
Summary
While not having any health insurance is an awful situation yo be in, it is not a reason for you to avoid treatment. In virtually all cases, you have options available for funding your recovery. This is even more true now than it was before, thanks to additional federal and state assistance for treating substance use disorders.
Additionally, advances in treatment have allowed outpatient programs to be far more effective than they’ve ever been. This means that you’re no longer stuck with needing expensive residential treatment for your drug or alcohol problem.
Whatever kind of program you need, our team at Dallas Drug Treatment Centers is ready to help. Get in touch to find affordable outpatient and residential programs that fit within your budget. Good luck, and be well!