9 Practical Tips to Help Pay the Bills While You’re in Rehab
Your financial responsibilities don’t stop just because you’re in rehab. How can you afford it? How will you pay your bills? How will you keep your job? How can you pay for both rehab and a mortgage?
These are the same concerns that stop some people from seeking the help they need. Worried about finances and job loss, too many miss out on the treatment that could save their lives.
Finding the Money
You might have to get creative, but fortunately, there are several ways for you to pay for rehab and obtain financial assistance while in rehab. Here are a few ideas you might want to think about:
- Health insurance: Your health insurance provider may cover substance misuse treatment. Insurance providers with marketplace plans must follow the mandates of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).1 The ACA states that individuals must receive healthcare coverage for essential benefits.1 Among these essential benefits is coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment.2 Length of stay and specific treatment facilities vary with providers, so be sure to talk to your insurance company or human resources department to verify your coverage levels.
- Medicare and Medicaid: These programs are government-funded health insurance plans that can assist with paying for addiction treatment, allowing you to spend your own money on the rest of your expenses outside of rehab, like electric and water bills. Medicare is primarily for people over the age of 65, although younger individuals with certain disabilities may also qualify.3 Medicaid is available through the state you live in and is a program based on a person’s income. Those with lower incomes usually qualify.4
- Angel Funds: Many organizations raise Angel Funds specifically to help pay for treatment services for those in financial need. With rehab costs covered, you will have more funds freed up to pay your bills while in rehab.
- Scholarships: Treatment centers often offer scholarships to help people pay for rehab or pay for ongoing life expenses while receiving treatment in their facility. Ask about these options when you’re doing research on treatment centers.
- Personal loan: To cover costs of treatment or personal bills while in rehab, you can consider taking out a personal loan. Banks, friends, and family are all potential sources – just do your research and be sure you can pay the money back. If asking for money from friends and family, you can suggest they give it directly to the treatment facility as a way to assure them the funds are going toward treatment.
- Financial guardian: Even if you find the funds to pay for everything while in rehab, it may be difficult to physically keep up with payments. Or unexpected payments may come up while you are away. Because of these issues, it might help to appoint someone as your financial guardian. They can watch your accounts for you and pay anything that’s due while you’re in rehab. You can make an informal arrangement with a trusted friend or family member, or make it official with legal documentation to give someone authority to manage your accounts.
- Work benefits: Do you have any vacation time saved up? Personal days? Does your employer offer long-term and short-term disability? Try using these benefits to cover your time away, that way you don’t miss out on valuable paydays. Also, look into your employee assistance program. This often provides free counseling or referrals to rehab facilities.
- Crowdfunding: With sites like GoFundMe, anyone can ask the digital masses for help with anything. Put your story out there. Be open and honest about what’s going on and why you need assistance, then see if you can raise funds to help pay the bills while you’re in treatment.
- Sell stuff: Your sobriety is more important than your camera, your art collection, your media center, your boat, and even your grandmother’s earrings. Many items can be sold quickly and easily to scrape together enough cash to pay for your expenses while in rehab.
Keeping Your Job
Are concerns about keeping your job are holding you back? Here are the facts:
- ADA protection: The Americans with Disabilities Act protects those who choose to attend rehab. It requires that your employer make accommodations for you to get the treatment you need. And, they can’t fire you because you decide to attend rehab.
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): FMLA allows employees to take 12 weeks of medical leave. While in a rehab program, your job is protected.
- Confidentiality: If your employer receives any information about your treatment, they are required to maintain confidentiality.
Verify Insurance Benefits for Addiction Rehab Costs
If you’re interested in addiction treatment, you can learn more by calling our admissions navigators, who can guide you through the admissions process and help you learn more about your rehab and payment options.
You can also search the rehabs.com treatment directory to find rehab facilities across the country and instantly verify your health insurance coverage if you want to learn about what may be covered on your plan. The following health insurance providers may cover some or all of the costs of rehab:
When you’re ready to take back control of your life, contact American Addiction Centers to get started with the recovery process. We’re available 24/7 to help, call .
Additional Reading
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