How to Get into Treatment With and Without Insurance

by Cristina Utti, MA, MFA | Sep 9, 2016 | Recovery

The first thing that people often think of when seeking drug or alcohol treatment is the cost.

For those who have private insurance (insurance not subsidized by the government) or group insurance, the first step is to call your insurance provider to see what is covered. They can provide you with a comprehensive list. Most private insurance companies cover a wide variety of drug and alcohol treatment centers. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Act of 2008 mandated that all group insurance policies carry benefits for standard treatment and rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addiction, so they will also have a broad list of places from which to choose.

If you do not have insurance, you can still get treatment.

You can use the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The list below has numbers to call according to the state in which you live. They can offer you a number of resources, ranging from government-funded rehabilitation facilities to low-cost or sliding fee (you pay according to what you can afford) drug and alcohol treatment centers.

• Alabama: (800) 367-0955 – http://www.mh.alabama.gov/sa
• Alaska: (907) 465-4841 – http://dhss.alaska.gov/dbh/Pages/default.aspx
• Arizona: (602) 364-4558 – http://www.azdhs.gov/bhs/recipients/addiction.htm
• Arkansas: (501) 686-9164 – http://humanservices.arkansas.gov/dbhs/Pages/default.aspx
• California: (916) 440-7400 – http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/individuals/Pages/default.aspx
• Colorado: (303) 866-7495 – https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdhs/find-behavioral-health-help
• Connecticut: (860) 418-7000 – http://www.ct.gov/dmhas
• Delaware: (302) 255-9398 – http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dsamh/index.html
• District of Columbia: (202) 727-8857 – https://odr.dc.gov/book/path-community-living-resource-guide/substance-abuse-treatment
• Florida: (850) 487-2920 – http://www.dcf.state.fl.us
• Georgia: (800) 715-4225 – http://www.mygcal.com
• Hawaii: (808) 692-7506 – http://health.hawaii.gov
• Idaho: (208) 334-5934‪‪ ‬‬- http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov
• Illinois: (800) 843-6154 – http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29725
• Indiana: (800) 662-4357‪‪ ‬‬- http://www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/index.htm
• Iowa: (866) 242-4111 – https://yourlifeiowa.org/find-help-near-you
• Kansas: (785) 296-3471 – https://www.kdads.ks.gov/commissions/behavioral-health
• Kentucky: (502) 564-4456 – http://dbhdid.ky.gov/kdbhdid/default.aspx
• Louisiana: (225) 342-8916 – http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/95/n/115
• Maine: (207) 287-2595 – http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/osa/help
• Maryland: (410) 402-8600 – http://www.mdcsl.org
• Massachusetts: (617) 624-5111 – http://www.mass.gov/dph/bsas
• Michigan: (517) 373-4700 – http://www.michigan.gov/bhrecovery
• Minnesota: (651) 431-2460 – http://mn.gov/dhs
• Mississippi: (601) 359-1288 – http://www.dmh.ms.gov/alcohol-and-drug-services
• Missouri: (573) 751-4942 – http://dmh.mo.gov/ada
• Montana: (406) 444-3964 – http://www.mt.gov
• Nebraska: (800) 648-4444 – http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/networkofcare
• Nevada: (775) 684-4200 – http://www.health.nv.gov
• New Hampshire: (603) 271-6738 – http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcbcs/bdas/index.htm
• New Jersey: (609) 777-0702 – http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/das/home/index.html
• New Mexico: (505) 476-9295 – http://www.bhc.state.nm.us
• New York: (877) 846-7369 – http://www.oasas.ny.gov/providerDirectory
• North Carolina: (800) 662-7030 – http://www.ncdhhs.gov
• North Dakota: (701) 328-8920 – http://www.nd.gov/dhs/services/mentalhealth/licensing.html
• Ohio: (614) 466-2337 – http://mha.ohio.gov
• Oklahoma: (800) 522-9054 – http://ok.gov/odmhsas
• Oregon: (503) 945-5763 – http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/amh/pages/index.aspx
• Pennsylvania: (717) 787-9564 – http://www.ddap.pa.gov/pages/default.aspx
• Rhode Island: (401) 462-1000 – http://www.bhddh.ri.gov/substance_use/index.php
• South Carolina: (803) 896-5555 – https://www.daodas.sc.gov/
• South Dakota: (605) 773-3123‪‪ ‬‬- http://dss.sd.gov/behavioralhealth/
• Tennessee: (800) 889-9789 – http://www.tn.gov/mental
• Texas: (512) 206-5145 – http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/MHSA
• Utah: (801) 538-3939 – https://dsamh.utah.gov
• Vermont: (802) 651-1550 – http://healthvermont.gov/adap/adap.aspx
• Virginia: (800) 451-5544 – http://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/individuals-and-families/substance-abuse
• Washington: (866) 789-1511 – http://www.adhl.org
• West Virginia: (304) 558-0627 – http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/bhhf
• Wisconsin: (608) 266-2717 – http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/substabuse/index.htm
• Wyoming: (800) 535-4006 – http://www.health.wyo.gov/mhsa/index.html

These are wonderful references to get information. You will have to make some calls and search around to find the right fit for you. This is a life-changing decision, so try not to get frustrated. Whether you have private, group, or no insurance, there may be a wait to get into treatment. While you are waiting, it is a good idea to check out meetings or groups in your area such as SMART Recovery, AA, Celebrate Recovery, or NA. These groups can help build a support system for the present moment, and for when you return from treatment.