Pros and Cons of Free Rehab Facilities
Though they may not have excess resources, free rehab programs can be a huge help in your recovery.
Financing a drug addiction has left more than a few addicts unable to pay for needed drug treatment help. Add to this the high likelihood of job loss before all is said and done and free rehab facilities can quickly become the only treatment alternative a person has.
As drug addiction rates continue to climb, local, state and federal governments have made free rehab facilities available to those who need them most. Free rehab facilities offer many, if not all, of the same services provided through other “at cost” treatment programs.
That being so, free rehab facilities come with their own sets of pros and cons just like any other type of drug treatment. Ultimately, a person’s individual treatment needs should trump all other factors when considering free rehab facilities.
Free Rehab Facilities
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, free rehab facilities offer a wide range of treatment options and levels of care in spite of the “no cost” incentive. In effect, state governments receive federal grant monies to distribute to eligible community-based organizations.
The types of programs available through free facilities include:
- Inpatient care
- Residential programs
- Detox treatment
- Outpatient care
Eligibility for free treatment help typically goes by a person’s income level and/or ability to pay. In general, nonprofit private organizations are more likely to offer free treatment compared to for- profit agencies.
Pros
Like most every type of medical treatment, the costs associated with drug treatment can run high regardless of a person’s ability to pay. In this respect, free programs offer a valuable service in cases where a person’s financial resources are lacking.
In terms of location, free facilities can be found in many cities across the U. S., making travel to out-of-state programs unnecessary. As each person enters the recovery process with his or her own specific treatment needs, the wide range of services offered through free facilities can meet most anyone’s treatment needs at each stage of the recovery process.
Cons
While each state may receive a certain amount of funding for free rehab facilities, states with tight budgets may limit eligibility to conserve available funding. Eligibility limitations may only cater to special populations, such as veterans, pregnant mothers and people who have HIV.
Limited funding may also restrict program duration lengths, so the length of treatment for any one program may run considerably shorter than programs that require payment. As anything offered “free” will likely go fast, free facilities often have long waiting lists so access to needed treatment may take longer than a person can afford to wait.
Considerations
Considering all the factors that affect whether a person can gain access to a free rehab facility, it may be worth looking into other payment assistance options. Many nonprofit and for-profit treatment programs do take Medicaid insurance coverage, which can go a long way towards covering treatment costs. People who can’t afford to pay for health insurance will likely be eligible for Medicaid coverage.
Most nonprofit and for-profit programs may also accept payment on a sliding-fee scale that’s based on a person’s income earnings. With these types of assistance options available, most anyone should be able to get needed drug treatment help.
