When a drug addiction is taking over your loved one’s life, you may spend countless hours worrying about their future. Unfortunately for some, paying for drug rehab when a loved one doesn’t have health insurance is yet another concern. This is a difficult problem too many families have to face.

There are ways to find and pay for a good treatment facility without health insurance. You can even combine several of the methods below in order to get the rehab help your loved one needs.

8 Tips on Paying for Rehab Without Insurance

Use these strategies if insurance is not an option for addiction treatment. Also be sure to look at different rehab options and programs to find the most affordable therapy and get the most for your money.

1. Explore Financing Options

This can be the best option if you do not have money available to spend. Contact the facility you are interested in and ask them about their financing options. The best benefit to financing is that the first payment is often not due until after treatment is complete. Some even give a six-month grace period to find a job and get settled before payments are due.

If the rehab facility you contacted doesn’t have financing available, they may have other options (like the ones below) to help you pay for treatment. Focus on getting the best treatment possible and the facility will help you identify the best payment option.

2. Scholarships

Make a list of treatment centers near you and call each to ask if they offer scholarships to those without insurance. Many facilities have scholarships for those who can’t afford to pay for rehab.

3. Grants

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has grants that your loved one can apply for if they cannot pay on their own. Read all of the requirements to see if he or she qualifies.

4. Sliding Scale

Treatment facilities are often willing to work with you and your loved one to see what can be afforded based on income and financial status.

5. Subsidized Coverage

If someone is unable to afford insurance, he or she might qualify for subsidized coverage with reduced premiums through Affordable Care Act insurance.

6. Personal Savings

This can be the last thing you want to use a savings account for, but it’s worth the investment to pay for an addiction treatment program.

7. Borrow Money from Family & Friends

Have your loved one send a personalized email explaining his/her story of addiction and why help is needed. People can be willing to help those they love get on the right track toward sobriety. Family members are also encouraged to get involved in the recovery process at many treatment centers, like Footprints.

8. Raise Money

There are a few ways to do this, which include selling certain belongings to raise money. Another option is starting an online fund through a site like GoFundMe.

How to Become Insured

You might decide during this process that the time is right to find your child or family member an insurance policy that fits his/her life. There are several ways to browse what’s best for their situation and income.

Using the Healthcare Marketplace

Open enrollment is going on now through December 15 and you can find several choices at healthcare.gov. The marketplace allows you to apply for coverage and show all options, and any subsidies, that are available. Student plans are even offered if eligible. Plus, all the policies offered here must cover substance abuse services. But be sure to compare the plans to see what type of coverage it provides and how much out-of-pocket expense it requires.¹

Contact a Health Insurance Broker

They can show you and your family member what is available and compare the policies and premiums to those in the marketplace.

No matter which option you choose, it has to meet your loved one’s needs. Be sure it’s not just inexpensive, but has the appropriate coverage for what they require for drug rehab and beyond.

Finding the Right Rehab Center

Once the payment strategy is decided upon, don’t delay in finding the best facility and getting the help your child or family member needs. At Footprints, we believe finances should not prevent someone from getting addiction help. Contact us today to learn about our finance plans and any insurance providers we accept. Our goal is to make substance abuse treatment easier to access for everyone.

References:

^1. The Smart Way to Buy Cheap Health Insurance. TheMotleyFool.com (accessed Nov 12 2018).