Guest post by Adam Richman
Addiction is an incredibly difficult period of a person’s life. In fact, it can be a period that takes up their entire life, with so many people overcoming it. It can pose considerable challenges that may cost relationships, careers and even lives if help isn’t received.
Getting help for addiction is transformative for millions of people globally, but still many don’t seek it. And one of the key reasons for that is not believing they can afford the likes of rehab. But how much does rehab cost in the UK?
Well, there are a range of options and they don’t all require thousands of pounds to get you through them…
Publicly Funded or Government-Sponsored Programmes
In fact, there are publicly funded and government-sponsored programmes that can provide addiction treatment at little to no cost. This is through the NHS or local authorities but can be a little more difficult to access. Typically, it can depend on your location and individual circumstances, with it generally having to be quite severe levels of addiction for you to get help immediately, particularly while the NHS is so stretched.
Private Health Insurance
If you have private health insurance, it may be that your policy covers some or all of the costs associated with rehab. While not all health insurance providers will offer coverage for addiction treatment, many will and that includes both inpatient and outpatient programmes, detoxification and access to various counselling services. If you want to take this route, you should speak to your insurance provider to discover the extent of the coverage available and any out-of-pocket expenses it may incur.
Sliding Scale or Income-Based Fees
What you may find is that if you’re worried about the affordability of rehab, some facilities may offer a sliding scale or income-based fees for those who do have financial needs. Typically this involves adjusting the costs based upon income levels in order to make rehab more affordable. Alongside this, some rehab facilities may offer payment plans or financing options to help spread the cost of treatment and rehabilitation, meaning you can get the help you need and pay back over a period of time.
Scholarships and Grants
Many rehab centres provide scholarships and grants to help offset the cost of treatment. This can help cover the expenses associated with rehab. Alongside this, for those who are in financial need, there may also be help from charitable organisations and foundations that provide funding for people who need treatment but can’t afford it. These options are well worth looking into and can really help save lives.
Community-Based Support Groups
Finally, while joining a support group isn’t a substitute for professional treatment, the likes of Alcoholics Anonymous and other support groups can be really valuable for people seeking support and guidance. They are safe and non-judgemental environments that allow people to share experiences and gain further insight into their addiction.
It can be a great place to seek motivation and encouragement on the journey to recovery and is entirely free. However, it won’t provide you with the tools to tackle addiction treatment and recovery in the same way rehab will.
