Expert Insights
I grew up in Maryland and saw firsthand how addiction has taken over my community. In high school I witnessed many friends and classmates use drugs and as I got older, the reality hit me harder. I lost friends to heroin overdoses and I watched others fall into cycles of addiction and homelessness.
Knowing so many of these people’s backstories and the pain they carried long before the drugs pushed me to become an advocate for mental health awareness online.
Maryland has been deeply affected by the opioid crisis. There were over 1500 fatal overdoses in 2024 alone according to Governor Moore’s office and fentanyl is now involved in many of these overdoses. Just last year, it took two of my neighborhood’s kids at the ages of 11 and 14.
Addiction isn’t about poor choices, it’s about untreated trauma, mental illness and a system that often fails people before they ever touch drugs. Sadly the stories I grew up with aren’t rare. They’re part of a large and ongoing mental health crisis that demands compassion and change.
~ Alizabeth Swain
How Much Does Drug Rehab Cost in Maryland?
Maryland is ranked 31st nationwide in terms of addiction treatment affordability, with an average cost of drug and alcohol rehab of $56,783 (without insurance).
- Medical detox is the most expensive, with an average cost of $139,991
- Long-term inpatient drug rehab in Maryland costs an average of $50,107
- Outpatient addiction treatment in Maryland costs an average of $8,326
- Outpatient methadone treatment is the most affordable, with an average cost of $7,398
Even if that seems out of your reach financially, options that may better fit your budget are also available. Insurance, payment plans, scholarships, and grants can all make getting help more affordable. And some facilities and detox centers in Maryland are free.
How to Pay for Drug Rehab in Maryland
As of 2024, there were over 490 drug rehab facilities across the state of Maryland. These facilities accept several payment methods. Of those treatment facilities, the following numbers reflect how many accept their respective payment methods:
391 accept self-payment or cash
192 offer sliding-scale fees for those without insurance
366 accept Medicaid insurance coverage
169 accept state funded insurance coverage
281 accept private health insurance
145 offer free or low-cost treatment
5 offer free treatment for all clients
22 accept tribal funding
Several options help you find and pay for low cost or free drug rehab in Maryland that can help meet your unique needs. Consider the following methods, including private insurance, government sponsored programs, and grants and scholarships.
Private Pay + Insurance
Most commercial health insurance policies cover treatment for mental health conditions and substance use disorders, which are regulated by two Federal laws. However, there are exceptions so you must verify your insurance coverage before receiving treatment. Most addiction treatment centers will verify your insurance coverage and help estimate your out of pocket costs.
Despite having Health insurance, some people choose private pay or self-pay for their alcohol and drug rehab. This provides greater confidentiality and reduces the potential for their employer will find out about substance abuse treatment. The following are some of the major insurance companies that provide coverage in Maryland.
- Aetna
- APWU Health Plan
- ArmadaCare
- CareFirst BlueChoice, Inc.
- CareFirst of Maryland
- Cigna
- Coventry Health Care
- Kaiser Mid-Atlantic
- Kaiser Permanente
- Optimum Choice, Inc.
- UnitedHealthcare
- UnitedHealthOne
Medicaid
Medicaid is state and federally sponsored health coverage designed for people who meet eligibility requirements. These typically include being a citizen of the U.S., having a Social Security number, residing in Maryland, and meeting financial requirements. Each state administers its own Medicaid Program and in Maryland, it is regulated by the Maryland Department of Health.
Medicaid covers approximately 1.8 million people in Maryland or nearly 25% of the state’s population. Half of those are children. In Maryland, Medicaid is called Medical Assistance and is managed by Health Choice. You can check your eligibility in the Health Insurance Marketplace run by the federal government or the Maryland Health Connection, which is the state’s health insurance Marketplace. Medicaid does adhere to federal laws that mandate mental health and substance abuse treatment, but, your coverage may vary depending on several factors.
Medicare
Medicare is federally funded health coverage designed primarily for people over age 65. There are several parts to Medicare, including Medicare Parts A, B, and D. Medicare Parts A and B cover inpatient and outpatient care and Medicare Part D covers prescription medications, including drug substitution for opioid use disorder.
Medicare Part C is a premium-based, managed care policy for Medicare Parts A and B that sometimes includes additional benefits. The Maryland Department of Aging assists Maryland residents who want to switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans or change to a different Advantage plan during open enrollment. There are more than 11 million residents in Maryland enrolled in Medicare and about 19% of them have purchased Medicare Advantage plans.
Military Insurance
TRICARE is a military insurance plan that covers active duty and veterans and their families. TRICARE is available worldwide and categorizes coverage into three regions. Military personnel in Maryland are covered by Humana Military that administers TRICARE. Coverage may also include the Reserve Select program, which is a premium based option for selected reserve members and qualified survivors.
The military healthcare system is one of the largest and most complex in the U.S. combining healthcare, medical education, public health, and private sector partnerships. The VA Maryland health care system has several locations throughout the state where you can access mental health and substance use disorder treatment and manage your health online.
Tribal Funding and Programs
There are no federally recognized tribes in Maryland, but there are state recognized tribes, including the Assateague Peoples Tribe, the Piscataway Conoy Tribe, and the Piscataway Indian Nation. During the 2020 census, over 128,000 people identified as part or full Native Americans. The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy has a Comprehensive Opioid Use Site-Based Program that helps provide tribes and territories with critical funding needed to respond to drug abuse. Maryland Grant Watch records 41 substance abuse grants for Maryland, of which seven are for nonprofits and tribal entities.
Other Low Cost Options
Several low cost options help reduce your out of pocket expenses related to substance abuse treatment. The quickest way to receive treatment is through a personal loan from the bank or friends and family. Bank loans offer more confidentiality, but friends and family typically charge less interest and have a more flexible repayment plan.
Other options that help reduce out-of-pocket expenses include working with treatment centers that offer payment plans and sliding scale fees. You will typically need to provide documentation of your income and ability to pay to qualify for these programs. Faith-based programs are often nonprofit and offer help paying for drug and alcohol rehab, while local businesses and organizations may offer grants and scholarships to cover treatment.
Consider raising funds for recovery treatment from your friends, family, or crowdsourcing. While this may feel uncomfortable, the cost of going without treatment is far more expensive as it includes the cost of drugs, loss of employment, damaged relationships, and possible incarceration.
Resources
- Maryland Opioid Operational Command Center. (2021). 2020 Annual Report.
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts.
- Maryland Department of Health. (2022). Maryland Medicaid Administration..
- Federal Communications Commission. (2022). Emergency Broadband Benefit.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Addressing the Specific Needs of Women for Treatment of Substance Use Disorders.
