What Is Private Drug Rehab?

When you start searching for treatment for alcohol or drug abuse, you discover very quickly that there are many options out there – and it can get confusing.  Private drug rehab describes those treatment centers that usually have more amenities, a more relaxed and home-like environment, and are often private pay.  This does not mean that your insurance will not cover part of the treatment – that depends on the way the rehab is set up to take insurance.

Some private drug rehabs have contracts with insurance companies. This means there is a designated rate that those insurance companies will pay.  This does not usually pertain to the higher end rehabs, as the cost is usually far more than an insurance company will be willing to pay per day.

Other treatment programs do what is called courtesy billing; you pay them up front, and they create a super bill that you send to your insurance company.  In most cases this will mean pre-certification and does not necessarily guarantee you will get back as much as you hope.

Some rehabs will take the risk of not getting  back as much insurance as expected. They will bill you only for the difference between what the insurance company says they will pay, then hope the insurance company will pay them the rest. They will not ask you for the difference if reimbursement is less than expected.

There are also county-run drug treatment facilities, which are obviously quite different from private drugs rehabs.  These are usually funded by the county or city where they are located. These rehabs will be no-frills, dorm-like settings.  They often have long waiting lists.

There are also nonprofit drug rehabs. These rehabs tend to have a lower cost than private drug rehabs and will offer a sliding scale for lower income people.

Occasionally, private drug rehabs will offer a scholarship or subsidize treatment.  If you have a therapist who works with specific treatment centers, they are the ones most likely to be able to negotiate a price for you.