Expert Insights
Despite being over the worst of the pandemic, we are still reeling from its aftermath. I was reading a story about a man in Pomona who struggled to cope with losing his job during quarantine and ended up turning to alcohol.
This is one of many tragedies that end in a person losing their home and family and living on the street with acute alcohol use disorder. Sadly, the story gets worse. New research shows deaths caused by alcohol use have increased over 25 percent during the pandemic, with people in their 20s, 30s, and early 40s being hit worst. Hospitals reported alcohol-related admissions increased 50 percent.
It goes to show that isolation, lack of coping skills, and poor behavioral healthcare. I think we have a lot to learn from this tragedy in terms of healthier coping strategies, supporting loved ones and checking in on vulnerable people, and getting connected to healthcare.
~ Kerry Nenn
Cost of Drug Rehab in Pomona
What you’ll pay for alcohol or drug rehab in Pomona depends on several variables, including the type of treatment you need and the length of your program. The facility you choose, whether you have health insurance, and whether you qualify for aid will also impact your out-of-pocket costs.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 141 facilities exist within a 10-mile radius of Pomona.1 Many of these facilities accept multiple forms of payment, and some offer financial assistance to qualifying individuals. Of the 141 treatment centers located in and near Pomona:
117 accept cash or self-payment
46 offer sliding-scale fees for those without insurance
64 accept Medicaid insurance coverage
32 accept Medicare insurance coverage
92 accept private health insurance
23 offer payment assistance
If you need treatment, but your financial situation may make it difficult or virtually impossible to pay for it, you can still get help. Several resources exist to aid you in accessing low-cost or free care that can help you jumpstart your recovery.
Low-Cost and Free Drug Rehab Centers in Pomona
To find reduced-cost or free treatment in the Pomona area, you can call each facility you’re interested in to ask if they offer any type of financial assistance.
Sliding Scale Programs: Pomona drug rehabs that offer services on a sliding fee scale will use your income to determine what you can afford to pay. If you have a low income, the facility will discount the cost of your program to a specific percentage of the program’s total cost.
While each facility’s sliding scale may be different, most use federal poverty guidelines to determine incremental, income-based discounts. Households with incomes at or below the federal poverty level typically qualify for the lowest possible fee, which may be $0. Policies and qualifications vary by facility.
State-Funded Programs: Government-funded programs serve California residents who are uninsured or underinsured and lack the resources to pay for their care. If you’re struggling financially, you may be eligible for a low-cost or free program at a state-funded alcohol or drug rehab in Pomona.
To qualify for enrollment, you’ll need to provide proof of income, lack of insurance, and state residency. You’ll likely also need to provide proof of your addiction status via a comprehensive substance use assessment. To learn more about where you can find these programs and what you need to qualify, you can contact the California Department of Healthcare Services.
Scholarships: If you’re uninsured or underinsured and can’t afford to pay for some or all of your costs, you may qualify for a scholarship. Some treatment centers offer these awards to financially disadvantaged patients, but you can also apply for scholarships from third-party donor organizations like 10,000 Beds. Various community organizations, religious institutions, and social services groups may also offer scholarships to individuals in need.
Insurance: If you have health insurance, it may cover care at a drug or alcohol rehab in Pomona. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all Healthcare Marketplace plans must offer some degree of coverage for substance use disorder treatment. The act also requires Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Cal) plans to provide partial or full coverage for addiction treatment.
Be aware that each facility accepts different types of insurance, so you must choose a treatment center that will take your plan. If you’re unfamiliar with your benefits, you can call your provider to learn more about your coverage and which facilities are in your plan’s network.
Resources
- Pomona, California Population 2021 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs). (n.d.). Worldpopulationreview.com.
- Los Angeles County Public Health Substance Abuse Prevention and Control. (2021, August). Annual Overview: Patients in Publicly Funded Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program in Los Angeles County 2019-2020 Fiscal Year.
- Office of the Assistance Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions Related to the Poverty Guideline and Poverty.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2016, December 16). Directory of Single State Agencies (SSA) for Substance Abuse Services.
- California Department of Public Health. (2018, June 18). Naloxone Standing Order Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
