Chapter 1: Substance Abuse, Mental Health, and the Role of Rehab Facilities
Substance abuse refers to drug and alcohol abuse, addiction, or dependency. Almost 21 million Americans reportedly have at least one addiction, but only 10%, or 2.1 million, receive the necessary treatment for recovery. Similarly, few people take mental health seriously despite suicide being the second most common cause of unnatural deaths in the US.
The strange part is that there are 14,000+ rehab facilities in the country to help people recover from addiction or get mental health support. Yet, accessibility reports often reveal that they might not be enough.
On top of that, rehabilitation centers have also become a massive business, earning more than $42 billion in 2020. The problem is that a significant percentage of the ones with the highest profits are luxury rehabs well out of the affordability range of the typical American.
Action for Accessibility
Thankfully, communities and governments alike have become concerned about the increasing concerns and have started initiatives. They are opening more affordable treatment centers to ensure all socio-economic classes have financial and physical access to such facilities to give them a fair chance at a new life.
The drive to increase accessibility is in full swing. Therefore, raising awareness about treatment suitability makes sense. The more people know how to find the proper rehabilitation for themselves, the more likely they will seek treatment.
Of course, this rule also extends to their loved ones, who may see the patient spiral and do the research work on their behalf before convincing them to seek the necessary treatment.
Finding Help
Seeking suitable rehabilitation centers requires considering several factors affecting your or your loved one’s experience. Your goal should be to avoid any establishment that considers you a means to make more money and focus on ones that genuinely care about providing support.
The following chapters in the books will address each component in detail to ensure you have the necessary knowledge to find the proper support.
Chapter 2: Financing and Insurance
Financing is a critical concern for most people seeking help and is sometimes an obstruction in the path to recovery. A 2019 report revealed that nearly 34 million people lost their lives because they couldn’t afford medical treatment. Another report claimed that 50% of addicts never receive the treatment they need because they cannot afford it, leaving them helpless and desperate.
Unfortunately, that is the sad reality in the US despite addiction and mental health treatments being billion-dollar industries. The good news is that governments and communities feel pressured by the steep incline in addiction and are trying to find a sustainable and affordable solution to help people in need.
Payment Options
Understanding how it works is the best way to get around this concern. A few treatment centers across the US provide addiction of mental health treatments for free if the patients cannot afford them. However, such facilities are fewer in number and not always accessible to everyone with financial insecurity.
Hence, it is best to consider the options you have.
- Free of Cost Treatment
- Government Healthcare Insurance
- Private Healthcare Insurance
- Family Support
- Debt Funding
1. Free-of-Cost
Free treatment options are where the center funds treatments for people through donations or their annual budgets for community service. However, these centers have limited spots for facilitating people under these options unless they only provide free treatment.
Therefore, they have strict evaluation criteria for patients and ensure the people getting approval cannot afford treatment otherwise.
2. Government Healthcare Insurance
Several treatment centers accept governmental healthcare insurance, like Medicaid or Medicare, which is a source of relief for a significant percentage of the population.
You can always opt for such facilities to reduce the burden of healthcare costs and minimize the stress that comes with them. However, note that Medicaid and Medicare have limited coverage, so it is best to confirm which parts of the treatment your government insurance will cover.
Knowing the cost beforehand is the better choice whether you’re seeking treatment for yourself or a loved one.
3. Private Healthcare Insurance
Some treatment centers may not accept Medicare and Medicaid, but they cover most private insurances and mention the list on their website. It is best to review the list to confirm if you’re covered or call the center to ask the staff directly.
Even with private insurance, it is best to check which treatment costs the insurance will cover and what you’ll have to pay. I also recommend upgrading your insurance to include such treatments to prevent the medical expenses from eating away at your savings.
4. Family Support
Some of you may not have the insurance or finances to pay for your treatment, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t receive it. Try to see if your family or loved ones can provide financial support for treatment and cover your bills while recovering.
Every family is different, so you’ll need to work out the dynamics and arrangement of support depending on how your family handles such matters.
They can consider the money a necessary gift to ensure your well-being or a loan you can repay once you get a stable job post-recovery. Although the family is involved, I recommend being clear about expectations in the earliest stages to avoid future miscommunication and disgruntlement.
5. Debt Funding
Lastly, you can take out a loan to fund your treatment. This option is at the bottom because it is my least preferred on the list. Seeking treatment for addiction or mental health disorders means you’re in a vulnerable position, and it will take time before you can become financially stable post-recovery.
Adding debt to the equation will only increase stress levels, potentially jeopardizing your progress. However, if you have no other option but debt, please take it and start the recovery process. You can always plan repayment options with your bank and reach an agreement that suits your circumstances.
The above mentioned financing options are the primary ones for recovery and rehabilitation treatment, so choose the ones that best suit you.
It is also a good idea to be careful in choosing your treatment center. Addiction treatment is a billion-dollar industry, so there are bound to be a few fraudsters in the mix. Questionable treatment centers and “body brokers” often target people with good health insurance, charging them for unnecessary and, sometimes, ineffective treatments. These frauds were the subject of inquiry in Florida in 2017; however, they are not restricted to the state. A few fraud mills operate in every state, targeting vulnerable people trying to turn their lives around.
Hence, be mindful of where you put your trust and money.
