Expert Insights
As a psychotherapist and a complicated grief counselor in Florida, I worked with many seniors whose grief following the death of a spouse was complicated by an increase in risky drinking behavior. Research confirms that this is not unusual.
A study in the journal Addictive Behavior found that prolonged and unresolved grief increases the likelihood of substance misuse. In Florida, which has a large senior population, about 32-37% of adults over the age of 65 engage in risky drinking, as opposed to 21-24% nationwide.
More attention should be paid by addiction professionals to the possible role of grief and bereavement as a trigger for substance misuse, especially by clinicians who work with seniors.
~ Rita Milios, LCSW, SAP
How Much Does Florida Drug Rehab Cost?
Florida is ranked 21st nationwide in terms of addiction treatment affordability, with an average cost of addiction treatment of $56,640.
Medical detox is the most expensive, with an average cost of $139,638
Inpatient rehab in Florida costs an average of $49,981
Outpatient rehab in Florida costs and average of $8,305
Outpatient methadone treatment is the most affordable, with an average cost of $7,379
Cost of Addiction Treatment in Florida Compared to Nearby States
Here’s how much drug rehab programs cost in Florida vs nearby states like Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina.
The numbers above are the average costs of all treatment types without any insurance coverage. This includes medically supervised detox and lengthy inpatient rehab programs, which drives up the average cost. The average individual can expect to pay much less, and exact costs of drug and alcohol rehab in Florida will depend on several factors, including:
Treatment setting | inpatient or outpatient
Features and amenities | luxury or standard rehab facility
Duration of program | 30, 60, or 90 days
Health insurance plan
Choosing a rehab facility in-network with health insurance provider
Government funding
Location | city vs. suburb
How to Pay for Drug Rehab in Florida
As of 2024, there were over 790 drug rehab facilities across the state of Florida. These facilities accept several payment methods. Of those treatment facilities, the following numbers reflect how many accept their respective payment methods:
682 accept self-payment or cash
423 offer sliding-scale fees for those without insurance
309 accept Medicaid insurance coverage
212 accept state funded insurance coverage
542 accept private health insurance
244 offer free or low-cost treatment
12 offer free treatment for all clients
64 accept tribal funding
There are a number of low and no cost payment options available for clients in Florida. Below are some of the methods that you can use to pay for addiction treatment.
Medicare
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are over 65 or who are disabled. It covers addiction treatment at every level, including residential. You may have traditional Medicare administered directly by the government, or you may have a Medicare Advantage plan. Medicare Advantage plans are administered by commercial insurers and often have a provider network they will expect you to use.
Medicaid
Florida Medicaid covers addiction treatment at every level, including residential. To be eligible for Medicaid in Florida, your income must be below a certain amount. That amount varies depending on how many people you have in your family. The Florida Department of Children and Families is where you should go to apply.. Other health insurance programs in Florida for people with low income include FloridaKidCare and the Medically Needy program. The Medically Needy program is for people struggling to afford health insurance but making too much to be eligible for Medicaid.
Tribal Funding
The Seminole tribe has an outpatient clinic in Hollywood that is free if you’re a tribal citizen. This clinic offers outpatient substance abuse treatment. Additionally, if you’re a member of a federally recognized tribe you can get Medicaid without any premiums if your income is as high as 300% of poverty level.
Military Benefits
If you have VA Healthcare, you can get addiction treatment at VA hospitals and clinics. The VA health system offers a full range of services for addiction treatment, including residential treatment options. People with CHAMPVA benefits may be able to get addiction services at their local VA, but you will need to check if that VA accepts CHAMPVA. People with CHAMPVA can also sometimes use services that take Tricare, but you need to check with the service to make sure they also take CHAMPVA. If you have Tricare for military health benefits, you can go anywhere within the Tricare network.
Insurance and Private Pay
Many people pay for drug and alcohol treatment with their health insurance or by just paying cash. Some people take out a loan to pay for treatment.
If you choose to use health insurance, you will want to consider how much your deductible is. You’ll also need to know which addiction treatment providers are within your network so you can make sure that those are the ones you use. If you want or need to go out of network for addiction treatment, check your out of network deductible and total out of pocket costs before you decide to do so. Doing this will help prevent surprise expenses.
The following is a list of major health insurance companies in Florida:
- GuideWell – Florida Blue
- Capital Health Plan
- Florida Health Care Plan
- Cigna
- Humana
- Aetna
- UnitedHealth
Other Low Cost Options
Many addiction treatment centers have income based sliding scales to help put addiction treatment within reach for people in every income bracket. Outpatient primary care clinics that receive certain types of federal funding are required to have addiction services as part of their service offerings and cannot turn anyone away due to their inability to pay. Many counties in Florida have resources available for county residents, making county government web pages a good place to check.
Free Treatment Programs
If you’re experiencing addiction, the cost of care can be a significant barrier. But it doesn’t have to be this way. If you don’t have insurance, some religious organizations provide free treatment. Drug treatment resources in Florida are often offered at the county level. Some county level resources receive state funding in the form of grant money, so you may want to consider asking about resources for people who can’t afford treatment.
Some organizations give scholarships for substance use treatment. Sometimes, the agency where you get treatment can provide you with a scholarship, but some scholarship funds work with multiple rehabs. If you’re looking for low cost or free rehabs in Florida, they guide below can help you find the care that’s best for you.
Resources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2022). Findtreatment.gov.
- United Health Foundation. (2022). America’s Health Rankings Annual Report: Excessive Drinking in Florida.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Drug Overdose Deaths.
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection. (2022). Florida Coastal Access Guide.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Medications for Substance Use Disorders.
- American Society of Addiction Medicine. (2022). The ASAM criteria assessment interview guide. https://www.asam.org/asam-criteria
- Florida SUD Licensure. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/licensing/samh#forms
