You’ve looked into the eyes of the people you love and realized it’s time: time to seek treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. Choosing an inpatient rehabilitation facility that provides quality care means you’ll have a lot of questions and want some assurances of success. We understand. So here are some suggestions to make the process easier.
Confirm Insurance Coverage and Costs
While the cost of substance abuse treatment isn’t free, you have options, such as a low-cost or government-funded facility, or a center supplemented by health insurance.
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and the Affordable Care Act require insurance companies to provide policies with coverage for behavioral and mental health conditions, and these benefits include substance abuse treatment.
Your insurer should provide partial or total coverage for the following:
- Addiction treatment medications
- Alcohol and drug testing
- Anti-craving medications
- Assessment by an addiction treatment facility
- Clinic visits
- Detoxification
- Home health visits
- Family counseling
- Inpatient or residential treatment
- Outpatient treatment
Here are more details about how to confirm insurance coverage for addiction treatment. This information helps ensure you or a family member handling your financial affairs will be better prepared when talking with admissions staff at different facilities.
How much does inpatient rehabilitation cost?
You’ll need all the details to make the best choice, so make sure to get transparent responses to your questions. However, keep in mind there are many variables—and some might not become apparent until you’re further along in treatment, based on what you need for effective recovery.
General factors influencing cost include:
- Length of residential treatment, which could be 30, 60, or 90 days.
- The need for extended residential treatment, which might last 3–18 months.
- Outpatient program services
- Additional medical or therapeutic care
How Will This Center Help Me?
You deserve the best possible care, so you and your loved ones should choose a facility that provides individualized treatment as well as a clear path to healing for every member of the family.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to know exactly what you need, especially if you’ve not had treatment before, or your previous attempt needs modification. Some people start by contacting the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration national helpline “for referrals to local treatment centers, support groups, and community-based services.” Then, it’s easier to narrow down your choices, usually based on whether you want to stay close to home or feel getting away will have a greater impact.
Once you and your family members are ready to visit rehab centers, divvy up the questions between you and take good notes. While your specific needs must be addressed, here are some other essential considerations:
Medical
- Does the facility operate with a philosophy that addiction is a disease and use evidence-based treatment solutions?
- What type of health assessments will I receive?
- How many medical professionals are on staff and in what roles?
- Is the facility equipped to handle other health conditions exacerbated by addiction?
- Does the facility offer detoxification services? Is the process medically-supervised, what does it involve, and how long does it last?
- How does the rehab center handle people with more complicated addictions, such as multiple substances?
Therapeutic
- What psychological, psychiatric, and counseling professionals are on-site?
- Is the facility able to handle mood, mental, and behavior disorders? If so, how?
- What type of mental and emotional health assessments will I receive?
- How many different forms of therapy will I have access to?
- What else will I learn to manage self-care?
- What type of individual counseling will I receive?
- Is there group counseling, and if so, is it specific to certain needs or to gender?
- Will my family have access to addiction education and counseling as well? Will we be able to receive counseling as a family?
Recovery tools
- Does the facility offer recovery programs such as 12-Step programs?
- How often can family visit me during treatment?
- What is a continuum of care plan, and how will mine be developed and modified as needed?
- What processes are in place to monitor my recovery, help prevent relapse, or revise treatment if relapse occurs?
- Is there an aftercare program?
- Are there community groups to help me stay in touch with the facility and other people in recovery?
- Is there an extended stay or sober living affiliation, in what kind of atmosphere, and what skills are provided?
Atmosphere
- How many other patients are in the facility?
- What is the staff-to-patient ratio? Is there a high turnover rate?
- In a residential facility, are patients’ rooms shared or private?
- What are the options for exercise and recreation?
- What activities are available?
- Can my family and I tour the facility to see what it’s like and talk to staff members?
With one quick glance at this list, it’s easy for you and your family members to feel overwhelmed. Please don’t be. Most facilities offer extensive websites, brochures for later review, and 24/7 admissions departments to answer whatever you might have forgotten during your initial contact. While your needs might be immediate, you should still have time to make a pros and cons list of the facilities you visit to determine the best choice.
Decades of Experience Helping Families Like Yours
Dr. John and Dot Mooney, a surgeon and a nurse, started Willingway in 1971 because they overcame their own substance abuse addictions and wanted to help others. Our hospital is still private and family-operated, and we understand the challenges families face with addiction. We’re confident we can help yours. Read more of our origin story, and contact our team if you’re ready to change your life for the better