How to Find Cheap Rehab Centers

Rehab centers are a complex mixture of different types of providers who service a diverse array of clients with varying treatment needs. Cost is a number one concern for those seeking treatment and according to a report from the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS),”Treatment providers recognize that paying for treatment can be a burden to their clients.”

There are outpatient and inpatient treatment providers, for profit and non-profit, clinical, traditional, holistic, faith-based, and community-based providers who are, increasingly, making cheap rehab centers available to the millions of people who need it.

Integrating Care

Many people who suffer from substance abuse disorders are unemployed and have no health care coverage. For those who do have access to health care coverage, substance abuse treatment may not have been included in their benefits package or they may be unsure of whether or not the treatment will be covered.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Care Services (SAMHSA) is tasked with the mission of trying to understand the magnitude of substance abuse and mental health issues in the U.S. What we now know is that many individuals who have a substance abuse disorder also have co-occurring mental or physical health issues that need to be addressed, in continuum, in order for the treatment to be effective.

To find the cheap rehab centers accredited by the SAMHSA, go to SAMHSA’s Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov. For free or reduced cost services, select from the “Payment Assistance” options when designing your search.

Non-Profit Rehab Centers

When searching for a cheap rehab center, you want to make sure you do not sacrifice quality of care.

Non-profit rehab centers have been a first resource tool to many and many of the resources can be found through community-based referrals, charitable organizations, churches, colleges, health centers or hospitals, and other program resources. These cheap rehab centers may offer free services or reduced costs and payment plans such as sliding scale fees based on income and not requiring any upfront fees to get in.

Another way to find cheap rehab centers is by exploring on-line or by contacting self help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. These groups involve individuals in recovery who are well aware of the costs concerns one may have when seeking treatment and they tend to be generally well informed on where to go. Local area meeting places and times may be found on-line and through the resources listed above.

Public Funding

As substance abuse treatment needs continue to evolve, partnerships are being forged to provide substantial funding from the public sectors with an emphasis on managed care to integrate the much needed physical and mental health services with substance abuse treatment.

This means that cheap rehab centers are not limited to those that are supported through charitable, church, or community resources, but, many options are available through a variety of other means. Private and for-profit centers are participating in publicly funded programs to offset the patient’s rehab cost and you can find these cheap rehab centers by exploring the many online sources or contacting the centers directly.

Public funding for substance abuse treatment is often available through state block grants, Medicaid or Medicare for those over the age of 65, federally funded health centers, and nonprofit agencies. Medicaid requirements vary by state and it is best to check with your local state agency or go to http://www.cms.gov/ for more information on both Medicaid and Medicare.

Federally funded health centers are an excellent resource for someone without health insurance or who is on a limited budget. They provide services based on income levels and may even be free to some individuals. As a service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, many federally funded health centers offer a wide range of mental health services that may not be offered through other programs. To find a federally funded health center near you, go to the Health Resources and Services Administration.

The Affordable Care Act

Effective in 2014, provisions of the Affordable Care Act expands benefit coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment services. Under the new law, “all new small group and individual market plans will be required to cover ten Essential Health Benefit categories, including mental health and substance use disorder services, and will be required to cover them at parity with medical and surgical benefits.” By doing this, treatments for substance abuse and mental health can be obtained in the same manner and with equally comparable costs as other medical benefits under the insurance plans.

The law also provides subsidies based on income levels which can help lower income or unemployed individuals and those who were otherwise ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare gain access to quality health care that includes substance abuse and mental health services. For more information on the Affordable Care Act you can call 1-800-318-2596 or go to: https://www.healthcare.gov/.