What’s the Difference Between Private and Public Insurance?
Private Insurance
The first and best financial assistance for rehab and other addiction treatments is to go through a private healthcare provider. If you have private insurance, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) guarantees that you have coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment. Because of the ACA, all private healthcare providers have addiction treatment coverage. However, coverage and services can vary greatly depending on your state, your provider, and your exact plan.
The best way to know what your insurance covers is to call the insurance company. Talk to a customer service representative about any questions you have. They can inform you about your specific plan and coverage. Typically, those with higher-tier plans, which cost the most, will have the most comprehensive coverage for any medical circumstance, including rehab.
Public Insurance
Private insurance itself can be costly; many do not have the luxury of having a private healthcare provider. There are government healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid for those without private insurance to get into rehab with no money.
These programs are available to anyone in the United States who qualify. To be eligible for Medicare, you must be over 65 or have a disability.
Medicaid, on the other hand, is less exclusive but still has some requirements. To be eligible for Medicaid, you must meet one of the following criteria: over the age of 65, under the age of 19, pregnant or a parent, or within a specific income range – typically at or below the Federal Poverty Level.
In Arizona, the Medicaid program is called the Arizona Healthcare Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), and it follows the same guidelines. Generally, AHCCCS covers several behavioral health services, such as behavioral health day programs, crisis services, rehabilitation services, support services, and treatment services, including substance abuse treatment.
Loans and Private Financing
If insurance cannot cover the full cost of care, there are other options for getting into rehab with no money. At first, you might consider offsetting the charge by putting it on a credit card to pay it back later. However, the limit on most major credit cards may not be enough.
The interest rates on credit cards can also be high, making it difficult to pay the money back and potentially costing much more than necessary. Instead, you should consider a private loan. Lenders can offer competitive interest rates, especially those with good credit scores, and typically have more flexible payment plans.
Generally, the various types of loan lenders for addiction treatment include private lenders, credit unions, and banks. After you provide your personal and financial information, they will offer you a certain amount of money upfront and set you on a schedule to pay it back.
Other lenders can be family or friends. While they are not necessarily professional lenders, they can also loan you money and make an agreement with you on how to pay it back.
If you have good credit and more income than debt, you may obtain a private unsecured loan from a professional lender. However, if you have a low credit score and debt, you may be required to use something as collateral – like a car or home.
A bank is likely to offer a home equity loan, which uses your house as collateral. These loans typically have the lowest interest rates, while private unsecured loans can range from a 5%-36% interest rate.
If you want help with addiction, we can help you navigate the financial options.
Grants & Scholarships for Rehab
If insurance is not cutting it, and you do not qualify for a loan or some other form of private financing. There are also grants and scholarships available. The benefit of these is that they do not need to be paid back, so you can focus on your recovery without worrying about the treatment cost.
Fortunately, some federal organizations offer these grants; one of them is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). They specifically offer the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, which can fund many drug and alcohol prevention and treatment programs for getting into rehab with no money.
Some individuals who may qualify for this grant include pregnant women, postpartum women, or intravenous drug users, which is a person who injects a substance into their veins.
Scholarships, like grants, are given based on need. Generally, scholarships are offered by individual treatment facilities. However, scholarships are limited, making them challenging to find and receive.
Even with limited availability, it’s still worth checking out. To qualify, a treatment center will look for someone who has exhausted all other financial assistance options.
Yet, even the scholarships offered by treatment centers may not cover the program’s full cost, so you may still need other options for financial assistance. If you leave the program or do not complete treatment, you may lose the scholarship and become financially responsible for treatment costs.
The Last Resort: Savings, Valuables, & Crowdfunding
As a last resort to getting into rehab with no money, there are three more options. The first is to take whatever money you can from your savings if you have one. While it may not seem like the best idea at first, it is much more financially sensible to take the money for treatment than prolong addiction and risk your well-being.
If you do not have any savings or your savings will not be enough, there is also the option of selling off some valuables. Once again, this is not a pleasant or ideal solution, but it does work. In the end, a person’s life and well-being outweigh any physical possessions. Some items that retain value and sell well are cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, jewelry, trading cards, art pieces, sports memorabilia, and electronics.
Another option to get into rehab with no money is crowdfunding. With the relatively recent rise of the internet and social media, people have become more connected and have access to more information than ever before; this includes the awareness of those in need.
You can reach hundreds to thousands of people and ask for financial assistance for various needs like medical bills through social media. This process is called crowdfunding. Like grants and scholarships, you don’t need to pay back anything you receive; however, success with crowdfunding can be difficult.
There is so much information online that it can be hard to break through and gain the traction necessary to cover treatment costs. But, it is possible and has been done many times before. You never know until you try.
Start Here to Find Your Way to Recovery
Although new ways of making money and getting financial assistance are being created all the time, at the moment, these are some of the best ways how to get into rehab with no money. First, you should utilize or try to get insurance from a private healthcare provider or through a public, government-funded program like AHCCCS.
These entities cover healthcare costs, and substance abuse treatment is as vital as any surgery or doctor’s visit. However, if insurance cannot cover everything you need, there are always loans and the potential for grants or scholarships. These can provide much-needed financial relief, but there are some last-resort options if you do not qualify.
Selling valuables, dipping into savings funds, and crowdfunding can also help you pay out-of-pocket for addiction treatment centers’ private pay programs.
If you or a loved one live with substance use disorder, it can be challenging, but sobriety is possible. Call us today at 1-888-906-0952 to speak to an addiction admissions specialist. Recovery is challenging, but with the right treatment, it can be easier.
