Is Drug Rehab Covered by Medicaid?
Yes, there are drug rehab programs that are fully covered by Medicaid. Medicaid provides coverage for addiction treatment because drug and alcohol addiction is a life-threatening medical and mental condition. Clinically, addiction is a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and is nationally recognized as a medical disease.
Therefore, Medicaid, which is a safety net health insurance for low-income, must cover the cost of drug rehab. However, Medicaid can be quite picky about what drug rehab programs they contract with.
Keep in mind that to get into drug rehab with a Medicaid health insurance plan, the rehab center must have a current contract with Medicaid. Finding a drug rehab near you that takes Medicaid can be tricky but not impossible if you’re dedicated and take the right steps.
How Much Does Medicaid Pay for Drug Rehab?
There’s good news. If you qualify for Medicaid and need drug and alcohol rehab, Medicaid usually covers the entire program. However, keep in mind that some Medicaid rehab programs can be shorter than your traditional 90-day program. There are certain limitations on how long you can stay in rehab. The biggest concern is to ensure that your rehab stay is medically necessary.
So even though you may not be able to stay for the recommended 90 days (which is proven to have the best outcomes), you can get a good headstart in recovery knowing that Medicaid will pay for your drug rehab program. The levels of care which they cover are detox, residential, inpatient, and then outpatient.
If contracted drug rehab centers can provide a medical record paper trail that points to a medically necessary stay in drug rehab, then your chances of staying in a program for a healthy amount of time increase.
How to Find a Drug Rehab that Accepts Medicaid?
To have success with finding a drug rehab that accepts Medicaid, you’re going to want to take the following steps.
- Reach out to our helpline at (888) 906-0952. You will be directed to a drug and alcohol rehab center accepting Medicaid and get a free consultation on your situation.
- If our vetted treatment specialists can’t help you, then please call SAMHSA at 1(800) 662-4357 to get a list of other Medicaid drug rehab centers in your area.
- Once you have this list, call each drug rehab center and ask them questions about their program.
- Decide on a program that has bed availability and meets your needs.
What if Programs in My Area are Full?
The drug rehab centers that accept Medicaid in your area may be full or have limited beds. If this is the case, do not despair. There are many things that you can do to ensure that you still get the help you deserve. Take the following steps to ensure that you get into a bed as soon as it becomes available.
1. Call every day to check on the availability of beds.
Admissions lines get calls every day from individuals looking for drug rehab. If you are interested in a program but they tell you that they are currently full, call every single day to check up on the status of their available beds.
Taking this step will accomplish a few things. The first is that the admissions specialists will know that you’re serious about getting help and by calling every day you will be on their minds. The second is that obviously, as soon as a bed becomes available you’ll be at the top of the list to call.
When you take proactive steps and show that you are eager to start the process of recovery, it can go a long way. Please keep a phone close to you if available so that they will be easily able to reach you!
2. Reach out to your family to gather funds or support for financing treatment.
If you have family members that are willing to help you, reach out to them. While Medicaid rehabs can offer just as good of treatment as other types of addiction treatment centers, other low-cost options can help you get a headstart in recovery. Approaching your family and asking them to pool money together to get you into rehab and bypass Medicaid rehab waitlists is a great choice.
3. Do Not Isolate in the Meantime
The opposite of addiction is connection. During the process of finding a drug rehab center, you’re going to want to reach out and develop a support system. In the United States, there are over 20 million people who identify as being in recovery from addiction.
In your city or town, there is likely a group of individuals who get together for meetings such as 12-steps or SMART recovery. Please ensure that you connect with someone you trust that can help hold you accountable on your recovery journey.
Fight the Good Fight and Begin Recovery
Overall, you must remember that you deserve to get help for your addiction. It can be the worst feeling in the world to feel isolated and not know what to do next. People who struggle with addiction often believe that help is not available to them and there is nothing further from the truth. Follow the steps outlined here and you should see success in finding treatment. Also remember, get connected with your local recovery community and you will find great people who can help lead you.
