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American Addiction Centers National Rehabs Directory

How Much Does Alcohol Rehab Cost?

When seeking alcoholism treatment, the first thing people may want to know is “how much does alcohol rehab cost?” This can play a role in whether people who need treatment decide to receive it, although some people may not realize all of the options available to help pay for care.1

The cost of alcohol addiction treatment can vary by state, facility, location, amenities and more, making it difficult nail down one exact price.2 Programs can range from no-cost at some facilities to over $100,000 for a 3-month stay at a luxury inpatient facility.3,4

For most people, the amount you’ll pay for treatment will be dependent upon what is covered by insurance or what you are able to pay out-of-pocket. Learn more about the cost of alcohol rehab centers, what factors affect the price tag, what insurance may cover and how to discuss your treatment options.

Factors Affecting the Alcohol Rehab Cost

A wide array of factors can affect the alcohol rehab cost, including the setting or type of treatment program you attend.2,6 Treatment settings can include, but are not limited to:2,5,7

  • Inpatient rehab: where you stay at the facility full-time while receiving treatment. Since this type of program involves receiving room and board as well as staff supervision around the clock, it tends to be more expensive than other types of rehab. These programs generally last about a month and involve both group and individual counseling sessions. Many programs offer detox, family counseling sessions, psychiatric care, and on-site self-help meetings.
  • Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), which offer group counseling sessions and individual sessions that may meet for at least 20 hours per week, depending on your unique needs. This type of care offers high levels of support and structure without requiring you to live on-site at a facility, reducing the cost of treatment.
  • Outpatient rehabs generally require patients to attend weekly scheduled group and individual counseling sessions during the day while allowing you to go home at night. This form of care typically costs significantly less than other forms of treatment. This level of care offers different levels of intensity and can be adjusted according to your needs and your treatment progress. Some outpatient facilities also offer detox and address co-occurring physical or mental health disorders.

Insurance coverage can play a major role in the overall cost of alcohol treatment. If you have health insurance, opting for a facility that is covered by your plan can significantly reduce how much treatment will cost.6 For people without health insurance coverage, facilities may offer sliding scales based on your income, scholarships, or payment plan options to make treatment more affordable.3,6

The length of time you spend in treatment also plays a part in determining the cost of care; longer periods of treatment involve higher costs, especially when you attend an inpatient program. Treatment programs that provide multiple services—such as detoxification, care for co-occurring mental or physical health disorders, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT)—may cost more than programs offering therapy alone.

Does Insurance Cover Rehab for Alcohol Addiction?

All Marketplace health insurance plans include coverage for substance use disorder and mental health treatment services as essential health benefits.8 While the specific levels of coverage can vary depending on which plan you have and what state you live in, all plans available through the Marketplace must offer coverage at comparable levels to what is provided for medical health conditions.8 These plans also can’t refuse coverage if you have a pre-existing substance use disorder.8

Further, The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) is a federal law that requires the majority of health insurance plans to offer equivalent levels of coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment as they do for the treatment of physical health conditions.9

Types of Alcohol Rehab

Although what is covered can vary, some services that may be included in your plan include:

How Much Does Rehab Cost Out-of-Pocket?

Depending on what type of insurance you have (private or government-funded), there still may be certain things that you’ll have to pay for out-of-pocket. Typically, you’ll likely be responsible for the following alcohol rehab cost:

  • Premiums: The annual or monthly cost to have insurance.
  • Deductibles: This is the amount you’ll have to pay before coverage starts.
  • Copays: The reduced fee paid in order to be seen by a doctor or to get service.
  • Lifetime limitations: Certain insurance plans may only offer coverage up to a certain amount before leaving the remainder to be paid by the policyholder.

Does Medicare Cover Alcohol Rehab?

Medicare does cover an array of services to treat alcohol and drug use.10,11,12 If you have Medicare, you are covered for screenings to determine if you have an issue with alcohol use, which can be beneficial in preventing addiction or help you access treatment earlier than you might have otherwise.10,12

In order for Medicare to pay for your care, a treatment provider must determine that the treatment is medically necessary; services must be received through a Medicare-approved provider or facility, and you must follow a plan of care that is created by a treatment provider.11 However, there may be more limits imposed on treatment for substance use disorders than its coverage for other types of services.12

When the following 3 conditions are met, Medicare coverage of treatment services can include:11,12

  • Education about the diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and how it is treated.
  • Therapy sessions.
  • Medications that are administered while you are in the hospital or a doctor’s office, such as those used to manage acute withdrawal symptoms.
  • Structured Assessment and Brief Intervention (SBIRT) services that can be offered in a doctor’s office or outpatient setting. This treatment involves screening to identify how severe your substance use is to decide the best level of care for you. You’ll undergo a brief intervention to gather information and help you increase your motivation to make positive changes about your alcohol use, as well as a referral to further treatment if it is necessary.
  • Aftercare services, which can involve follow-up after discharge from the hospital or a treatment program.

Types of Medicare Plans

Different parts of Medicare cover different types of alcohol use disorder care, provided that they are approved.11,12 Inpatient alcohol rehab programs are covered by Medicare Part A while outpatient alcohol rehab programs are covered by Medicare Part B.11,12 Medication-assisted treatment may be covered by Part A during inpatient treatment, or Part D when medications are prescribed through an outpatient facility.11,12

Your cost, including copayments or coinsurance, depends on whether you have met your deductible for the year, what type of plan you have, and whether the provider or facility is covered by Medicare.11,12

Types of Alcohol Treatment Centers

In order to make treatment more accessible, there are various types of facilities to meet a range of needs. These can include:

Verify Your Insurance Coverage for Alcohol Rehab

Alcohol.org is a subsidiary of American Addiction Centers (AAC), a nationwide provider of addiction treatment centers. We understand that making the decision to seek treatment for addiction isn’t easy; and therefore, we accept many insurance plans and can work with you so that finances aren’t a roadblock to recovery.

Our team operates an alcohol detox hotline that is available 24/7 to answer your questions about treatment and help you understand what may be covered under your insurance. All calls are 100% confidential and there is no obligation to make a decision right away. We can be reached at

Or, call one of our facilities directly to speak with an insurance specialist who can help you navigate the specifics of your policy.



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