How Much Does Drug and Alcohol Rehab Cost?

Inpatient and outpatient rehab programs have helped millions of people achieve and maintain lasting sobriety. Despite these programs’ effectiveness, the cost of rehab deters many patients.

“I know the costs of treatment can seem daunting, but there are options to make rehab accessible regardless of your financial situation,” says psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) Valerie Puffenberger. “Not getting the help you need could cost you far more in the long run in terms of your health, relationships, and quality of life.”

Below, we’ll cover how much different types of addiction treatment programs typically cost and ways to pay for and make rehab more affordable.

Typical Costs of Rehab

When answering the question, “How much does rehab cost?” it is important to specify the type of treatment program. This is because there are many different types of rehabs, and the costs for each type vary.

How Much Does Medically Monitored Detox Cost?

Medically monitored detox is a process by which treatment professionals provide medications, therapies, and other treatments to patients going through acute withdrawal. The goal is to get patients through withdrawal safely and comfortably so they are in the best state of mind when they begin later treatment.

Medically monitored detox is always highly advisable but considered absolutely essential in the case of alcohol, barbiturate, and benzodiazepine use disorders, as their withdrawal symptoms are frequently deadly.

The typical cost of drug detoxification is between $250 to $800 per day, with an average of $525 per day. Most detox programs require a minimum of seven days, which totals up to a typical cost of between $1,750 and $5,600, with an average total of $3,675.

How Much Does Inpatient or Residential Rehab Cost?

Inpatient or residential programs require patients to live at a rehab facility where they receive around-the-clock monitoring, medication, therapies, and other treatments.

Inpatient rehab completely separates patients from triggers, enablers, and the underlying causes of their addictions, allowing them to fully focus on recovery. For these reasons, inpatient rehab is widely agreed to provide the greatest likelihood of a successful and lasting recovery.

Inpatient and residential rehab programs are typically priced according to length of stay. The cost of 28-day and 30-day programs typically range from between $5,000 and $20,000, with an average cost of $12,500. The cost for 60-day and 90-day programs typically falls between $12,000 and $60,000, with an average cost of $36,000.

How Much Does a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) Cost?

Partial hospitalization programs are rehab programs that require patients to attend several hours of treatment three to five days per week, usually while living at home.

PHPs provide significantly more flexibility than inpatient programs while still helping patients adjust to “normal” life in a more gentle and protective way.

The average cost of a partial hospitalization program is between $350 and $450 per day, or $2,450 to $3,150 per week.

How Much Does an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Cost?

Intensive outpatient programs require patients to attend treatment sessions several days a week while living at home. Generally, they are not as time-intensive or focused on mental health as PHPs.

Intensive outpatient programs allow patients to continue to meet daily obligations (e.g., work, school, looking after children, etc.) while still receiving treatment and adjusting to a life of sobriety.

The average cost of an intensive outpatient program is between $250 and $350 per day, or $1,750 and $2,450 per week.

How Much Does Outpatient Rehab (OP) Cost?

Outpatient rehab programs require patients to attend treatment sessions several days a week but fewer sessions and/or days than IOPs. Outpatient rehab programs provide the greatest personal freedom and scheduling flexibility, but they also provide the lowest amount of treatment and are often advised as a step-down level of care.

The typical cost of outpatient rehab is between $1,400 and $10,000 for 30 days, with an average cost of $5,700.

How Much Does Aftercare Cost?

Aftercare is a collective term used to describe a wide variety of medical and clinical interventions that patients use after they complete inpatient and outpatient rehabs. Examples of common aftercare services include therapy, education and training, drug testing, sober living homes, support groups, individualized treatment plans, counseling, and peer mentoring.

The greatest aftercare expenses for many patients are therapy sessions. An average in-person individual therapy session is $150, while the average online session is $40 to $70.

What Affects the Cost of Rehab?

How much drug and alcohol rehab costs depends on a large number of factors, including:

• The type of rehab facility or program
• The location of the rehab facility or program
• The duration of treatment
• The available amenities, treatments, and services
• Whether the rehab program or facility is considered luxury
• The credentials of the staff
• Insurance coverage
• Provided aftercare services
• Holistic and alternative therapies
• Medication costs
• The type of addiction
• The age of the patient
• Any co-occurring mental health or medical conditions
• Available payment plans and financing options

Does Health Insurance Cover Rehab?

Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (sometimes known as Obamacare), health insurance providers have been required to cover:

• Behavioral health treatment, such as psychotherapy and counseling
• Inpatient mental and behavioral health services
• Substance use disorder treatment

However, the actual coverage provided varies from plan to plan. Two patients who spend the same time in treatment and receive the exact same services may end up paying thousands of dollars in difference if they have different insurance plans.

Some patients may find that close to 100% of the post-co-pay portion of their rehab is covered by their insurance. Other patients may find that less than 10% of their total costs are covered.

Making this more confusing is that rehab programs have unique relationships with different insurance providers, meaning a patient with the same insurance policy could end up paying more at one facility than another for the same length of stay.

The only way to know for sure what coverage your insurance will provide at a specific rehab is to contact the facility directly and speak with an admissions staff member. They can help you figure out what your insurance will cover and what your approximate out-of-pocket costs will be.

At Legacy, we accept most major insurance providers. You can verify your insurance online or call us at 888-534-2295 to learn more about coverage and costs at our facilities.

Paying for Rehab

There are many ways to pay for rehab. Some of the most common and widely accepted methods include:

• Private health insurance plans
• Medicaid and Medicare plans
• State-funded insurance and rehab programs
• Scholarships and grants
• Sliding scale fees
• Employee assistance programs (EAPs)
• Self-payment
• Family and friends
• Crowdfunding
• Financing and loans
• Local and nonprofit organizations
• Funding from religious organizations

Is Going to Rehab Worth the Cost?

Rehab is absolutely worth the cost. You can always make more money. You cannot buy back the years of your life stolen by addiction. You cannot undo the harm you cause to others.

“There’s no price tag on saving your life and reclaiming your health and relationships,” says Puffenberger. “The investment pays off through improved wellbeing, reduced risk of relapse, and higher earning potential by overcoming addiction. Financing solutions exist to make rehab accessible. With proper treatment, recovery is possible no matter your financial situation.”

When you talk to people who have successfully completed rehab and are living a meaningful life of sobriety, they will tell you it’s worth the cost.

Addiction is costly in mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional ways. It is also literally costly and can take a toll on your finances. Heavy illicit drug users, especially cocaine and opioid users, often spend tens of thousands of dollars—sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars a year—on their substance misuse.

Even heavy users of legal substances like alcohol often spend more on drinks every year than they would on a single rehab program. Those estimates don’t even take into account other costs of drug and alcohol misuse, such as missed work, missing out on promotions, legal fees, medical costs as a result of drug- and alcohol-related injuries and illness, and more.

What if I Can’t Afford Rehab?

There are many options that can substantially reduce the cost of addiction treatment and, in some cases, may eliminate it entirely. Here are some strategies to investigate if you think you can’t afford rehab:

• Look into government-sponsored rehab programs. Many state and local governments offer rehab services at low rates and grants and scholarships for patients to attend for-profit programs. One of the best resources to use to find government programs (and many other treatment options) is to call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline, also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service, at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
• Look into nonprofit organizations. There are many nonprofit rehabs that are substantially less expensive than for-profit programs. There are also nonprofits that provide grants or scholarships to help people attend for-profit programs. You can use an online directory like com to start your search.
• Consider changing insurance plans. You may be eligible for substantially better addiction treatment coverage than what is provided by your current plan.
• Find free rehabs. There are free rehab programs available in most states, in major metropolitan areas. Be advised that the waitlists for these programs can be long.
• Contact local and national religious organizations such as churches, synagogues, and mosques. Many religious organizations are affiliated with treatment programs and organizations that provide scholarships and grants.
• Utilize the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many programs are available to veterans and their families that substantially reduce the cost of rehab.
• Attend support groups. Virtually every town and city in the United States has daily Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, which are open to the public. Most support groups are free, and millions of people have achieved and maintained lasting sobriety through them.
• Attend therapy. Even if you are unable to find a payment option that works for you, you can get many benefits from attending therapy sessions, which are much less expensive than full treatment.

Your Life Is Priceless

If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, you may feel as if you have run out of hope. However, hope is out there. And it is possible to find a rehab program that is both affordable and effective.

There are thousands of low-cost rehab options throughout the country. There are also payment resources, such as loans, scholarships, insurance, and government programs, to help cover the costs of your chosen program. However, it is always important to remember that no matter what the cost of treatment is, it is much less than the cost of addiction.

if you’d like to know more about your treatment and payment options at Legacy, call 888-534-2295 today to speak with a staff member.

How Much Does Drug and Alcohol Rehab Cost FAQs

How much does drug and alcohol rehab cost?

The cost of rehab varies tremendously depending on a number of factors, including the type of rehab program. Here are the average costs associated with different types of rehab:

• Medically monitored detox – $3,675 per week
• Inpatient or residential programs – $12,500 per month
• Partial hospitalization programs – $2,800 per week
• Intensive outpatient programs – $2,100 per week
• Outpatient programs – $5,700 per month
• Aftercare programs – $150 per session

What factors into the cost of addiction treatment?

Many factors go into the cost of addiction treatment, including:

• The type, size, and location of the rehab facility or program
• The duration and level of care of treatment
• The available amenities, treatments, and services, and whether they are luxury
• The credentials of the staff and the reputation of the program
• Insurance coverage and available alternatives
• Available aftercare services and holistic/alternative therapies
• Medication costs
• The type of addiction
• Any co-occurring mental health or medical conditions

Are there free rehab programs available?

There are free rehab programs available throughout the country, but they are not evenly distributed. Instead, they are clustered together in major metropolitan centers. Additionally, most free programs have long waitlists to attend, and many have strict requirements for who is eligible to attend them.

Many patients find it more advantageous and not significantly more expensive to find low-cost rehab programs run by nonprofits or state and local governments. There are also many grants and scholarships available that can make the cost of attending rehab free, or nearly so, for eligible patients.

How can I pay for rehab without insurance?

There are many ways to pay for rehab without insurance. Many patients are what is known as “self-pay,” which means either the patient or a friend or family member pays for their treatment out of pocket.

Patients can also use scholarships, grants, and loans to cover the cost of rehab. Some patients are able to get their rehab costs covered by charities, nonprofit organizations, religious organizations, or government agencies. There are also many free rehab programs that don’t require any payment.

About the Author

Jeffrey Juergens

Jeff Juergens is a leading author in the addiction and recovery field, dedicating the last seven years of his life to helping those struggling with substance use issues find the help that they need. Jeff's work has been used in rehabs across the country as tools to help patients achieve sobriety.

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Dr. Olushola, MSW

Olushola Lawal, MSW, RCSWI Olushola (Shola) Lawal serves as a Primary Therapist at Legacy Healing Detox. Shola was born and raised in South Florida. He is a Florida State University double alumnus graduating with his Bachelor of Social Work in 2013 and his Master of Social Work in 2015. Shola’s...

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