For many people, choosing a detox center ultimately comes down to cost. Although other factors like treatment methods, privacy, amenities, and accreditation are also very important, detox treatment must also be affordable.
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If you or a loved one is looking for an inpatient drug detox program but you’re not sure how to pay for detox, this blog will answer some questions you may have about paying for drug detox with and without insurance.
Paying for Drug Detox With Insurance
Paying for Drug Detox With InsuranceHealth insurance companies are generally required to provide coverage for mental health and substance abuse disorders, so in most cases, health insurance will cover a portion of the cost of treatment in detox.1 However, insurance can be confusing and complicated, so a lack of information about benefits and treatment coverage often keeps people from getting the treatment they need.
If you have health insurance and you want to use your insurance benefits to pay for drug detox, your insurance company may offer full or partial substance abuse treatment coverage. The degree of coverage will vary depending on the details of the insurance policy you’ve purchased.
Various health insurance companies and policies work differently, so your health insurance provider may require that you meet a deductible before they will pay for any of your treatment in drug detox. For example, you may be required to pay up to $2,500 before your insurance benefits can be applied to the overall cost of treatment. Alternatively, your health insurance company may also require that you choose from a select group of approved providers.
How to Verify Your Health Insurance Benefits
The best way to determine the extent of your insurance coverage for detox is to contact your health insurance company directly and ask. A company representative should be able to tell you how much of the cost of drug detox will be covered by insurance and how much will be left for you to pay out-of-pocket.
If you would like to enroll in drug detox at Briarwood Detox Center, you can call our admissions team directly and we will complete an insurance verification for you. This just means that we will contact your health insurance company on your behalf to find out if they cover detox treatment at our facility, as well as the degree of coverage that is provided. We work with many different U.S. health insurance companies, including:
- Aetna
- Ambetter
- AmeriHealth
- Beacon/ValueOptions
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- First Health
- Humana
- Magellan
- Magnacare
- Medical Mutual
- UMR
- UnitedHealthcare
- Scott and White
- WebTPA
If you’d like us to verify your health insurance benefits today, we will need you to provide the company name and phone number of your health insurance provider, your member ID number, and your date of birth. The insurance verification process is completely free, confidential, and you are not obligated to enroll in treatment at Briarwood Detox Center.
Paying for Drug Detox Without Insurance
If you do not have health insurance or your benefits won’t kick in until you pay a certain amount out-of-pocket, there are several other alternative payment options that can help reduce the overall cost of drug detox.
Health Savings Account (HSA) Funds
If you do not have insurance or you have a high-deductible insurance plan, your out-of-pocket expenses for drug detox may be higher. In this case, using HSA funds is a great way to reduce your expenses for treatment. You can use your HSA to pay for things like lodging, meals, and transportation to AA meetings (if this is a part of your treatment) while enrolled in an inpatient detox program.2
Employee Assistance Programs
If your employer offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), this is another resource you can tap into. An EAP program is a confidential program offered through an HR department or third-party that is free for employees to use. It provides immediate professional assistance for personal issues like substance abuse problems while also helping you maintain your employment. Depending on your employer, your EAP program may offer counseling, referrals to addiction treatment programs, family support, and help re-integrating back into the workplace once your treatment is complete. If you’re not sure if your employer offers an EAP, you may want to ask your HR department for more information.
Financed Healthcare Loans
Healthcare lending companies may offer simple interest loans that provide longer terms and lower monthly payments, so you can pay off the remaining balance for detox treatment in smaller, more manageable chunks. Often times, all you have to do to get a loan is complete a short and simple online inquiry.
Credit Cards
Although using credit cards may not be an ideal way to pay for drug detox, it can work if it’s your only option. If you have good credit, you may want to apply for credit cards with a low-interest or no-interest rate so that carrying a balance from month to month is a little more manageable.
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding websites are online tools that people use to raise money for medical care or causes and organizations that they are passionate about. Using crowdfunding websites like GoFundMe, Fundly, FundRazr, or GoGetFunding can be a highly effective way to raise funds from friends, family, and even strangers who want to help you get the treatment you need to recover.
When it comes down to it, the cost of not getting addiction treatment is higher than any monetary price. Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce the cost of drug detox and get high-quality, effective treatment that will help you achieve a life of continued recovery.
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