9 Practical Tips to Help Pay the Bills While You’re in Rehab

Your financial responsibilities don’t stop just because you’re in rehab. How can you afford it? How will you pay your bills? How will you keep your job? How can you pay for both rehab and a mortgage?

These are the same concerns that stop some people from seeking the help they need. Worried about finances and job loss, too many miss out on the treatment that could save their lives.

Covering Expenses While You’re in Rehab

While you might be wondering how to pay bills while in rehab, it is most important to determine how you will cover the cost of rehab first. You might have to get creative, but fortunately, there are several ways for you to pay for rehab and obtain financial assistance while in rehab. Here are a few ideas to consider:

1. Health Insurance

Your health insurance provider may cover substance misuse treatment. Insurance providers with marketplace plans must follow the mandates of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).¹ The ACA states that individuals must receive healthcare coverage for essential benefits.¹ Among these essential benefits is coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment.² Length of stay and specific treatment facilities vary with providers, so be sure to talk to your insurance company or human resources department to verify your coverage levels.

2. Medicare and Medicaid

These programs are government-funded health insurance plans that can assist with paying for addiction treatment, allowing you to spend your own money on the rest of your expenses outside of rehab, like electric and water bills. Medicare is primarily for people over the age of 65, although younger individuals with certain disabilities may also qualify.³ Medicaid is available through the state you live in and is a program based on a person’s income. Those with lower incomes usually qualify.⁴

3. Angel Funds

Many organizations raise Angel Funds specifically to help pay for treatment services for those in financial need. With rehab costs covered, you will have more funds freed up to pay your bills while in rehab.

• Scholarships: Treatment centers often offer scholarships to help people pay for rehab or pay for ongoing life expenses while receiving treatment in their facility. Ask about these options when you’re doing research on treatment centers.
• Personal loan: To cover costs of treatment or personal bills while in rehab, you can consider taking out a personal loan. Banks, friends, and family are all potential sources – just do your research and be sure you can pay the money back. If asking for money from friends and family, you can suggest they give it directly to the treatment facility as a way to assure them the funds are going toward treatment.
• Financial guardian: Even if you find the funds to pay for everything while in rehab, it may be difficult to physically keep up with payments. Or unexpected payments may come up while you are away. Because of these issues, it might help to appoint someone as your financial guardian. They can watch your accounts for you and pay anything that’s due while you’re in rehab. You can make an informal arrangement with a trusted friend or family member, or make it official with legal documentation to give someone authority to manage your accounts.
• Work benefits: Do you have any vacation time saved up? Personal days? Does your employer offer long-term and short-term disability? Try using these benefits to cover your time away, that way you don’t miss out on valuable paydays. Also, look into your employee assistance program. This often provides free counseling or referrals to rehab facilities.
• Crowdfunding: With sites like GoFundMe, anyone can ask the digital masses for help with anything. Put your story out there. Be open and honest about what’s going on and why you need assistance, then see if you can raise funds to help pay the bills while you’re in treatment.
• Sell personal items: Your sobriety is more important than your camera, your art collection, your media center, your boat, and so on. Many items can be sold quickly and easily to scrape together enough cash to pay for your expenses while in rehab.

More Ways to Pay Your Bills While You’re Gone at Rehab

One of the most common reasons people choose not to attend rehab is because they are fearful of losing their jobs, making it impossible to keep up with bills as a result. Thankfully, there are ways to keep your job while in rehab, allowing you to continue paying for your bills until you are able to get back to work, including:

• ADA protection. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects those who choose to attend rehab. It requires that your employer make accommodations for you to get the treatment you need. And, they can’t fire you because you decide to attend rehab.
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). FMLA allows employees to take 12 weeks of medical leave. While in a rehab program, your job is protected.
• Confidentiality. If your employer receives any information about your treatment, they are required to maintain confidentiality.
• Employee Assistance Programs. EAP programs are workplace initiatives that provide services for the emotional, financial, and social health of company employees. Most EAP’s offer services such as counseling, financial advice, crisis management, and resources to help treat substance use disorders.

Start the Recovery Journey

Getting started on the path to sobriety is not as complicated as it may seem. At AAC, we have compassionate, experienced admissions navigators on hand to help you get the process started. By calling , you will be connected to one of these navigators who will guide you through the process of admissions when you are ready. All calls are confidential, free, and are of no-obligation to you.

We have several brick-and-mortar facilities spanning the nation from Massachusetts to California that have teams of dedicated professionals ready to help you make positive changes in your life. Visit our facility sites below to learn more about the specific services each offers, such as medical detox, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, sober living, etc., or simply ask an admissions navigator when you call .

• Greenhouse Treatment Center
• Oxford Treatment Center 
• Recovery First Treatment Center
• Desert Hope Treatment Center
• River Oaks Treatment Center
• AdCare Treatment Centers

Do not wait one more moment to reach out for the help that you or a loved one deserves. Take the first step in the recovery process and call us now.

Additional Reading

• 5 Ways to Make Rehab a Little More Affordable