Expert Insights
I recently heard about a new type of recovery program called contingency management which shows some pretty remarkable results.
Contingency management simply means providing incentives and rewards for completing certain recovery activities, like attending a meeting, taking a negative drug test, or going to counseling. Rewards include sunglasses, headphones, gift cards, candy, and clothes. Believe it or not, it’s backed by science, and it works.
In the VA, for example, there is a 92 percent rate of negative drug tests in program participants. Rewards work better than counseling alone, and the administration knows it. Biden is said to launch more programs from the National Drug Control Policy with the Department of Health and Human Sciences increasing their reward budget to nearly $600 per participant!
I’m excited to see how this changes long-term recovery outcomes.
~ Kerry Nenn
Cost of Drug Rehab in Bridgeport
The cost of substance use disorder treatment can vary depending on the programs you select. Factors that affect cost include:
Whether the program is inpatient or outpatient
Special amenities or specialized treatment at the rehab
Your insurance coverage
Travel costs to get to rehab
Location of facility
Inpatient programs tend to have higher costs. You may begin by detoxifying at a medical facility, which will add to the overall cost of care. After that, you go to a residential facility for behavioral therapy. The cost of residential rehab includes counseling, housing, and meals.
Outpatient programs can be significantly less expensive than inpatient ones. Your cost covers therapy sessions, but because you don’t live on-site, you don’t have the added expenses of room and board in a facility. However, you will be fully responsible for managing your own housing, food, and medical care.
Low-Cost and Free Drug Rehab Centers in Bridgeport
Connecticut has a number of low-cost or free programs funded by government grants and outside donations. These programs are all accessible to people who need treatment but cannot otherwise afford it. Many of the programs prioritize specific populations for admission, including:3
- Individuals who are pregnant
- Single mothers
- Injection drugs users
- People with co-occurring mental health conditions
If you are not eligible for free rehab programs, look for facilities with flexible payment options. Some programs may offer financial assistance such as:
- Fees that are adjusted based on your financial situation, also known as sliding scale fees
- Installment plans that allow you to pay for care over time
- Scholarships that pay for some or all of the cost of treatment
If you have insurance, your insurance plan will cover some of the cost of care, which reduces your out-of-pocket expenses. All insurance plans must include coverage for rehab. Two federal laws—the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Act—mandate that private insurance, employer-sponsored insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and military insurance plans include coverage for drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
It is important to check with facilities to find out which insurance plans they accept. Private insurance companies typically partner with a network of preferred providers, so your insurance may cover more of your costs if you go to one of these in-network facilities. If you choose a facility out of that network, your out-of-pocket costs may be higher.
Resources
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- Bridgeport, Connecticut Population 2020 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs). (n.d.). Worldpopulationreview.com.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Behavioral Health Barometer Connecticut, Volume 6: Indicators as measured through the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. HHS Publication No. SMA–20–Baro–19–CT. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- County Health Rankings. (no date.). Fairfield County, CT.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022, April 14). Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant.
