Expert Insights
I have spent the majority of my nursing career working with pregnant mothers and children.
When I describe what it’s like to work with this population, I always say, “When it’s good, it’s great, and when it’s bad, it’s horrible.” It’s horrible when a mother loses her life. In Louisiana, accidental overdose is the leading cause of pregnancy-associated death according to the Louisiana Department of Health.
Programs in Louisiana, such as M.O.M. (Maternal Overdose Mortality), aim to reverse this trend by increasing access to Narcan, buprenorphine and evidence based treatment programs. Time will tell whether programs such as this will reverse this devastating trend.
~ Cary Damerow, BA, LPN
How Much Does Drug Rehab Cost in Louisiana?
Louisiana is ranked 33rd nationwide in terms of addiction treatment affordability, with an average cost of drug and alcohol rehab of $56,822 (without insurance).
- Medical detox is the most expensive, with an average cost of $140,087
- Long-term inpatient drug rehab in Louisiana costs an average of $50,142
- Outpatient addiction treatment in Louisiana costs an average of $8,332
- Outpatient methadone treatment is the most affordable, with an average cost of $7,403
The cost of rehabilitation in Louisiana will vary based on a variety of factors, including the type of facilities available and the type of program you need. The best way to estimate potential costs is to consider the following:
The type of treatment program you need, i.e., inpatient care, outpatient care, etc.
The type of facility, such as luxury-style accommodations vs basic amenities
The duration of treatment, which could last 30, 60, or even 90 days
Whether you have insurance
Whether you’re eligible for special financing or government funding
The location of your intended facility
How to Find Low-Cost and Free Drug Rehab Centers in Louisiana
As of 2024, there were over 160 drug rehab facilities across the state of Louisiana. These facilities accept several payment methods. Of those treatment facilities, the following numbers reflect how many offer free or low-cost addiction treatment services in Louisiana:
136 accept self-payment or cash
70 offer sliding-scale fees for those without insurance
115 accept Medicaid insurance coverage
49 accept state funded insurance coverage
114 accept private health insurance
814 offer free or low-cost treatment
8 offer free treatment for all clients
18 accept tribal funding
Paying for addiction treatment in Louisiana can be challenging for some people. However, addiction treatment is not a luxury. The costs associated with drug addiction are typically far higher and include the cost of drugs, damaged relationships, unemployment and possible incarceration.
Private Pay + Insurance
Many commercial insurance policies offer coverage for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Two federal laws mandate coverage. However, there are exceptions so you must verify your insurance coverage for addiction treatment. Costs associated with private insurance include deductibles, copays and coinsurance.
Some treatment centers offer payment plans to help spread these costs over time. Some people choose self pay or private pay even with health insurance. This reduces the potential that their employer will discover they underwent addiction treatment. The following are some of the major insurance providers in Louisiana.
- Ambetter from Louisiana Healthcare Connections
- BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana
- CHRISTUS Health Plan
- HMO Louisiana
- UnitedHealthcare
Medicaid
Medicaid is a federally and state funded health coverage for individuals who meet eligibility requirements. Typically, eligibility includes U.S. citizenship or qualified immigrants, a current Social Security number, residency in Louisiana, and income limits. Louisiana adopted the Medicaid expansion program under Healthy Louisiana, in June 2016.
Healthy Louisiana extended coverage to adults earning up to $138% of the federal poverty level. Louisiana was the first state in the Deep South to expand eligibility coverage. Medicaid meets the Essential Health Services coverage under the Affordable Care Act, which includes treatment for mental health conditions and substance use disorder and addiction. Healthy Louisiana is administered by the Department of Health. The program aims to protect and promote health coverage and ensure people receive access to Medical and Rehabilitation services.
Medicare
Medicare is a federally funded health program designed primarily for people over the age of 65. Some people who are younger with specific health conditions may also qualify. There are two parts to Original Medicare. Medicare Part A covers inpatient care and hospitalizations, and Medicare Part B covers outpatient care, including therapies and doctor appointments. Medicare meets the essential health services required under the Affordable Care Act, including treatment for mental health conditions and addiction.
In Louisiana, more than 913,000 people are covered by Medicare and more than half of those have Medicare Advantage Plans. Medicare Advantage is also called Medicare Part C. These are premium based managed care policies provided by commercial health insurance providers. Medicare Part C coordinates the care of Medicare Parts A and B under one policy and sometimes offers additional benefits, including behavioral health to manage mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Medicare Part D also is a premium based coverage that provides benefits for prescription drugs including drug replacement therapy for opioid use disorder.
Military Insurance
TRICARE is the health insurance coverage offered to active duty and retired military personnel and their families, National Guard, and Reserves. TRICARE coordinates care under the Military Health System, including coverage for Veterans Affairs facilities and healthcare professionals alongside civilian and healthcare professionals.
TRICARE manages coverage across the world in three regions. In the U.S. there are two regions and Louisiana is in the East Region managed by Humana Military. VA health coverage is offered to active duty and retired military personnel at VA facilities within the state. In Louisiana, there are three VA hospital facilities, some of which offer care and treatment for substance use disorders.
Tribal Funding and Programs
There are four federally recognized tribes in Louisiana and 11 state recognized tribes. The Louisiana Department of Health offers the Louisiana State Opioid Response Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. They received roughly $12,000 each year over two years to help improve the statewide prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also offers Tribal Opioid Response Grants to tribes to address the opioid crisis in tribal communities by increasing access to culturally competent evidence-based treatment. Louisiana Grant Watch lists 41 grants to address substance abuse treatment and prevention, eight of which are focused on providing support to non-profit and for-profit tribal organizations.
Other Low Cost Options
You may also have access to more options that lower your cost or make alcohol and drug rehab free in Louisiana. The option that allows you to start rehab quickly is a private loan. You may get a private loan from the bank or friends and family. Bank loans are typically confidential information while loans from friends and family usually have lower interest rates and better repayment plans.
Although a loan is the quickest option, it’s not the only option. You can consider other ways of receiving financial aid to help you pay off a personal loan and reduce your financial burden even further. Many treatment centers offer payment plans and sliding scale fees. To qualify, you must meet eligibility requirements that document your income and ability to pay.
Local businesses and organizations may offer grants and scholarships that do not have to be repaid. Nonprofit faith based and community based programs often take donations that allow them to offer free alcohol and drug rehab. You may also consider crowdsourcing funds to help pay for rehabilitation. While asking for help can feel embarrassing or overwhelming, it is far better than continuing to live under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Resources
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2021, December 1). Mental Health and Substance Use Insurance Help.
- Chanell Baylor. SAMHSA (2021). Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021, June 8). Methadone.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022, December 8). Who’s eligible for Medicare? https://www.hhs.gov/answers/medicare-and-medicaid/who-is-eligible-for-medicare/index.html
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022, October 12). Substance use treatment for Veterans. https://www.va.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/substance-use-problems/
- Lafitte, J. (2024, May 17). American Indians in Louisiana. National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/jela/learn/historyculture/native-americans-in-louisiana.htm
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2024, May 16). Tribal Opioid Response Grants. https://www.samhsa.gov/tribal-affairs/tribal-opioid-response-grants
