First, check for coverage you might not know about
Many people who think they have no insurance actually qualify for something. Before you plan to pay out of pocket, check these:
- Florida Medicaid. If income is low, your loved one may qualify. You apply through the Florida Department of Children and Families. See our Medicaid and state-funded care page.
- A Marketplace plan. HealthCare.gov says all Marketplace plans cover substance use disorder treatment as an essential health benefit, and they can’t deny you for a pre-existing condition. Losing a job or other life changes may allow sign-up outside the usual season.
- A family plan. Adult children can often stay on a parent’s plan up to age 26.
- VA health care or TRICARE. If your loved one served, see veterans and TRICARE.
- Medicare. For people 65 and older or with certain disabilities, see Medicare and rehab.
A plan for rehab without insurance
Call SAMHSA’s helpline
SAMHSA’s free, confidential National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP (4357)) refers people without insurance to state-funded programs and sliding fee facilities.
Ask about state-funded care
Northeast Florida’s state-funded behavioral health care runs through LSF Health Systems, the DCF managing entity. Ask providers if they receive state funds.
Ask private programs for a good faith estimate
If you pay on your own, providers usually must give you a written good faith estimate, according to CMS. Ask about sliding scales and payment plans too.
If you plan to pay out of pocket
Paying on your own gives you some rights. CMS says providers usually must give uninsured and self-pay patients a good faith estimate of what care will cost. If the final bill is at least 400 dollars more than that estimate, you may be able to dispute it.
Before you commit, ask each program:
- What level of care do you recommend, and why?
- What is included in the estimate, and what is billed separately?
- Do you offer a sliding fee scale, a payment plan or reduced fees?
- What happens to the bill if my loved one leaves early?
- Can I have all of this in writing?
Ask too whether the estimate covers the whole stay or only the first part, and whether the doctor, the lab or the pharmacy will send separate bills.
Be wary of anyone who asks for a large payment over the phone before an assessment, or who pressures you to decide tonight. Calm, licensed programs don’t need to rush you. Check any program with our how to check a rehab guide.
Lower cost levels of care
Not everyone needs residential treatment. For many people, an intensive outpatient program or standard outpatient counseling is the right fit, and these usually cost less because there are no overnight stays. An assessment can tell you which level fits.
Free mutual-help groups like AA, NA and SMART Recovery can support recovery alongside treatment. Our low cost rehab guide has more.
For opioid use disorder, medication-assisted treatment is often given in an outpatient clinic. Ask any clinic about state funding or a sliding fee. Never stop or change a medication without talking to a doctor.
Rehab without insurance: common questions
Can you go to rehab without insurance?
Yes. Options include state-funded treatment for people who qualify, sliding fee programs, self-pay with a written estimate and free support groups. Florida Medicaid or a Marketplace plan may also be possible.
Will a program turn my loved one away for not having insurance?
Some private programs only take insurance or full payment. Publicly funded programs serve uninsured people who qualify, though there may be a wait. Keep calling, and ask each place who else they would suggest.
Is detox possible without insurance?
Yes, but don’t skip medical advice. Withdrawal from alcohol and some drugs can be dangerous. Talk to a doctor, or call SAMHSA’s helpline for referrals. Our detox guide explains the options.
Can I sign up for insurance now, outside open enrollment?
Sometimes. Certain life changes, like losing job-based coverage, can open a special enrollment period. Medicaid has no open enrollment season, so you can apply through DCF at any time.
Does SAMHSA’s helpline cost anything?
No. SAMHSA says the referral service is free of charge and confidential, and it is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, in English and Spanish.