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Addiction can take a real toll on your career and finances, leaving you without the health insurance or money you need to pay for rehab. This can leave you feeling frustrated, hurt and hopeless: feelings that only isolate you and make you want to keep using. That isolation is dangerous. Substance abuse isn’t something you should try to tackle alone.
Don’t let a lack of insurance coverage or funds keep you from seeking treatment for your substance abuse and mental health issues. There are a number of no-cost or affordable options available for people who want to begin their recovery journey. As we’ve discussed before, even paying out of pocket costs less than most addictions will cost in the long-run, and certainly cost less when considering what is at risk.
Here’s what you can do to get into rehab with no money or insurance:
Do a SAMHSA Search
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, better known as SAMHSA, maintains an up-to-date database of treatment facilities throughout the United States that provide services for people struggling with substance abuse or mental health issues. Their online search tool lets you locate facilities within a certain area.
Call the SAMHSA National Helpline
SAMHSA operates a free, confidential helpline that’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The number is 1-800-662-HELP (4357), and service is available in both English and Spanish.
Also known as the National Treatment Referral Routing Service, the SAMHSA helpline provides information and referrals to drug and alcohol treatment centers, addiction support groups and community-based rehab services. They will refer uninsured and under-insured callers to facilities that charge fees on a sliding scale that’s based on your ability to pay.
SAMHSA can also connect you with free, tax-supported inpatient and outpatient treatment centers, detox facilities and addiction counselors in your state, city or county.
Ask About Scholarships
Many accredited rehab facilities, including FHE Health, offer a limited number of scholarships for patients who simply don’t have the financial means to access the addiction treatment help they desperately need.
These scholarships are sponsored by either the treatment center itself, the alumni or a third-party individual or organization like a community-based service group, church or union. Occasionally, a treatment center graduate will decide to “pay it forward” by funding a scholarship at the facility where they got clean. It’s also common for members of the recovery community to designate funds from their wills to be used towards addiction center scholarships for addicts who can’t afford to pay.
Consider a Faith-Based Rehab Center
A number of faith-based organizations operate drug and alcohol treatment facilities throughout the country that offer free rehab services. The Salvation Army is the largest no-fee rehab provider in America, and the YMCA offers free community-based substance abuse services nationwide.
Catholic Charities USA operates and supports a number of residential recovery programs such as Evergreen House for women. They also operate the Flatbush Addiction Treatment Center in New York City, an outpatient substance abuse center for youth ages 12 and older that offers individual and group therapy, dual-diagnosis groups, and medication-assisted treatment.
It’s important to note that faith-based treatment programs include references to religion, and the role religion plays in their addiction services can vary dramatically from center to center.
Research State-Funded Rehab Centers
Free addictions counseling is available through a number of county hospitals, public health departments, and nonprofit organizations. These counselors can help you connect with state-funded treatment centers and behavioral health services.
In most cases, publicly funded state treatment programs require proof that you’re a resident of the state where you’re applying for rehab. You’ll also need to verify that you qualify for free treatment based on your lack of assets, savings, and income. Lastly, you may need to participate in therapy sessions or groups to demonstrate that you’re ready to make a commitment to rehab before you’re approved for free treatment services.
Contact Private Rehab Centers
A 2010 survey conducted by SAMHSA revealed that close to half of the 13,688 treatment centers listed in their directory offered some type of no-cost addiction treatment program or service to clients who couldn’t afford to pay. This means it’s worth contacting a number of private rehab centers directly to ask if they offer free services.
Connect With People Who Are in Recovery
Reach out to the recovery community in your area for help with finding a free rehab center. Groups like AA and NA are good places to learn about addiction treatment options directly from people who have “been there, done that.”
If you’re supporting a loved one who needs to access rehab, you can also attend a local Nar-Anon, Al-Anon or Families Anonymous meeting to make connections within the recovery community. And because not everyone is able (or wants) to participate in a 12-step meeting in person, there are now a number of online support groups where you can connect with others who may be able to help you get into rehab without money or insurance coverage.
Think About Crowdfunding
With the rise in popularity of social networking, people who need funds to pay for addictions treatment are increasingly using crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe, GiveForward, and YouCaring to ask for help.
According to Rob Solomon, CEO of GoFundMe, 1 in 3 campaigns on the platform is seeking funds to cover medical-related expenses. At any given time, you’re likely to find thousands of active crowdfunding campaigns looking for money for addiction rehab. The majority of these campaigns are either completely unfunded or fall far short of their goals.
Despite the poor odds of success, if you have a strong social network and feel comfortable asking for help, you might want to consider starting a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money you need to pay for rehab.
Call Us Here at FHE Health
If you’re ready to take control of your life by committing to a rehab program, call us here at FHE Health. We’re available to take your call or chat online anytime. Our team of experienced, compassionate addiction and mental health experts can help you learn about our scholarship program and other no-cost treatment options.
