Long-term drug rehab involves a stay in a residential (or inpatient) facility for as long as 30 to 90 days or more. In fact, the National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that one proven model, which is known as a therapeutic community, can involve a stay as long as a year. That might sound like a lot of time to commit, but long-term treatment is known as the best way to combat addiction. It lets you separate yourself from triggers that fuel substance abuse so you can concentrate on yourself and work toward sobriety. Many health insurance plans recognize the benefits of long-term rehab and cover some of the associated costs. For more information about how long-term addiction treatment can help your journey toward a sober, more positive lifestyle, contact us today.

What Is Long-Term Addiction Treatment?

Long-term rehab usually occurs in a facility outside of a hospital setting and involves a stay of at least a month. How long you remain in a rehab center for drug or alcohol addiction depends on a variety of factors, including your own commitment to sobriety, whether you were ordered by a court to seek therapy and what your treatment providers feel is appropriate to address your addiction and any underlying or coexisting conditions.

Long term addiction treatment doesn’t usually occur in a hospital setting. Instead, individuals are treated in residential facilities that may be designed more like a large home or even a resort. The amenities you’ll find in long-term rehab facilities vary widely, but the goal is to ensure that you can reside comfortably at the facility and concentrate on working on overcoming addiction.

The NIDA notes that residential treatment generally requires 24-hour care and service. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be in direct contact with a doctor, nurse or therapist every minute of every day. But staff are on hand all hours of the day to provide assistance, medical care or counseling as needed, and you usually participate in scheduled events each day, with downtime for recreation and rest.

The Benefits of Long Term Rehab Centers

Movies and television sometimes portray addiction treatment as something that is successfully done in just a few days or weeks. And while rehab comes in all types and lengths, longer inpatient stays have been proven to be more effective for many people. They allow time for:

• Medically assisted detox, if necessary, to help you rid your body of drugs or alcohol without experiencing some of the more uncomfortable or severe effects of withdrawal
• Therapy to help you understand the root causes of your addiction, so you can address those to help stay sober long-term
• Learning about, developing and practicing healthy coping mechanisms, so you can create a more positive lifestyle
• Planning and preparing for behavioral and lifestyle changes that might be necessary to support sobriety
• Allowing your brain, body, and mind to heal
• Working through issues with loved ones through family therapy, if applicable, to heal relationships and prepare a more adequate support system

Longer stays let you get more involved in — and gain greater benefits — from all of these areas. For example, if medically assisted detox would be beneficial to you, that may be a prime focus for a week or two. During that time, you may not be able to focus your attention fully on behavioral therapy or learning new coping mechanisms because you are working closely with clinical staff to manage physical and mental withdrawal symptoms.

Individuals who are dealing with a co-occurring diagnosis, such as anxiety, depression or another mental health disorder, may need the extra time in long-term rehab to address both issues thoroughly. In fact, inpatient drug rehab is usually the best option for such individuals, and a large percentage of people with dual diagnoses don’t respond well in outpatient settings if they haven’t been through residential rehab first.

Another benefit to a longer inpatient stay is that it allows you to cement a habit of sobriety. It can take around 66 days to form and stick with a positive habit, and sobriety is not an easy habit to create if you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol. That’s in contrast to the popular short-term 21 days that people talk about, which isn’t long enough for most people to ensure a habit sticks. Long-term rehab lets you set a strong foundation for a sobriety habit in a place where drinking or drug use is not actually an option. That makes it more likely you can stick to the habit once you leave the residential setting.

The Costs of Long-Term Inpatient Rehab

The costs of long-term inpatient rehab can vary widely depending on the facility you choose. Inpatient rehab settings can range from comfortably functional to luxurious, and the price tag often ranges along with those amenities.

Insurance Coverage of Long-Term Drug Rehab

Between 2000 and 2010, federal legislators passed several laws to help ensure mental health services — including treatment for chemical dependency — would be covered by insurance plans. Parity for mental health and substance use disorders requires that insurance companies provide equal coverage for these types of conditions as they do for physical conditions. Under these rules, insurance companies can’t take actions like charging inordinately large co-pays and deductibles on mental health services that they don’t on other services.

The Affordable Healthcare Act also adds some assurance that your insurance plan will cover some expenses associated with a long-term alcohol rehab or drug rehab program. The ACA requires that marketplace plans offer behavioral health benefits, which include treatment for addiction.

Understanding Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Insurance coverage doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t experience out-of-pocket expenses associated with long-term rehabilitation. Most plans require you to meet a deductible and then pay a co-insurance or copay amount on services provided. Deductibles can range between $500 and $15,000 per calendar year, depending on the type of plan you have. Out-of-pocket maximums (the total amount insurance will require you to pay toward the treatment plan of any kind during a calendar year) generally range between $5,000 and $15,000 or so.

However, there are many options for covering the out-of-pocket costs of long-term alcohol abuse or drug rehab. From assistance programs to payment arrangements with the facility, you can usually find an option that works for you. Some programs offer scholarships or other financial aid opportunities.

Financial worry is understandable, but it should never be a reason for avoiding treatment. The financial, social, legal, career and family costs of continuing on in addiction can be much greater. If you’re dealing with drug addiction and want to find out more about our long-term rehab in Florida treatment options and how much they might cost, consider filling out our online form to verify your insurance coverage. Our compassionate admissions counselors can help you understand your options, what costs might be involved and how you can make arrangements for long-term inpatient treatment.

Considerations When Choosing a Long-Term Alcohol Rehab or Drug Rehab Treatment Center

Cost is obviously something you should consider when choosing an extended stay rehab provider. First, you definitely want to ensure that the provider takes your insurance plan. If possible, you also want to choose a provider who is in-network with your plan. That usually means a lower copay percent or more covered benefits.

But financial drivers shouldn’t be the only thing behind your choice in a residential rehab facility. Here are some other things to consider to ensure a facility is likely to meet your needs for addiction recovery.

• Accreditation of the program. What type of licenses and certifications does the program have, and what type of credentials do the staff have? Look for facilities that are licensed by state agencies and have doctors on call, licensed nurses on staff and clinically licensed therapists or social workers.
• Location. For some people, seeking treatment in a location far away from their own home (or even out of state) is a good idea. They may want to put distance between themselves and the lifestyle or social circles that led to their addiction. For other people, it’s important to find a treatment facility as close to home as possible because they may want to involve their family or loved ones in therapy or treatment decisions.
• Detox treatment. Ask about medically assisted detoxification and whether it’s included. This is especially important if you’re addicted to drugs known for severe withdrawal symptoms, such as heroin. When you speak with admissions staff at potential rehabs, they may be able to help you understand if detox is the right choice for you.
• Specialties or focus. Does the facility have experience or specialize in treating conditions that are relevant to your needs? If you’re dealing with alcohol addiction but the program concentrates solely on drugs, it might not be quite right for you. The same is true if you have a co-occurring mental health diagnosis and the rehab program doesn’t treat secondary diagnoses.
• Treatment methods. Aside from medically assisted detox and individual or group therapy, what treatment methods are used? Everyone learns and grows in different ways, so look for programs with methodologies that mesh with your personality and interests. Many programs offer recreational therapy, but some include special recreation such as equine, art or drama therapy, for example. Other options may include diet and exercise education and activities, massage and chiropractic therapy, meditation, yoga or even acupuncture.
• Faith-based programs. If faith is important to you, consider choosing a program that offers faith-based therapy, Bible study, worship time and spiritual guidance. For someone of faith, healing the spirit and relationship with their higher power can be as important as healing the body or human relationships.
• Medical conditions. If you are also dealing with serious medical conditions, does the rehab offer supervision and assistance with those conditions?
• Visitation and family therapy. Are family members or friends allowed to visit you during the program? This can be especially important if you’ll be in long-term rehab for months as opposed to days or weeks. It’s also critical for some individuals to be able to begin family therapy to heal relationships with loved ones or for the family to begin to learn about the addiction cycle and recovery process too.
• Aftercare and discharge planning. What is the process for planning your transition from inpatient treatment to outpatient treatment through to a return to “regular” life? Support at this critical juncture is important to ensure long-term success with sobriety goals.
• Treatment planning. How does treatment planning work at the program, and how much do you get to participate in the process? For some individuals, it’s extremely important to take an active role in planning, while others are more content to be a more passive participant.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions of admissions counselors and other staff about the program you are considering. While there is often some degree of urgency in seeking addiction treatment, you can work with professionals to ensure your needs are fully understood and seek recommendations for the right facility for you.

Long-Term Florida Rehab: What to Expect at Transitions Recovery Program

Transitions Recovery Program is a comprehensive long-term addiction treatment program in Florida. While every individual comes to Transitions Recovery with different needs, you can expect some common experiences in our program, including:

• A comfortable, compassionate environment that lets you concentrate on your own needs and recovery
• Experienced, licensed professionals who understand how to implement best practices in individual treatment needs to help you work toward breaking the cycle of addiction and developing your own goals for a healthier, more positive future
• Comprehensive treatment programs that treat the whole person, not just the addiction, to help you create a strong foundation for success with our long-term programs for sobriety
• Options and personalized treatment programs that include services that range from medically assisted detox to recreational therapy, ensuring you can interact with staff and treatment methods on a level that works for you

If you’re struggling with addiction, it’s never too late to seek substance abuse treatment. Call us today at 800-626-1980 to speak to a caring counselor. All calls are confidential, and we can provide you with information about inpatient treatment options, insurance coverage and what steps you need to take to begin your journey to a better life at one of Florida’s top drug rehab centers.

This web copy was reviewed by Transitions Recovery Program’s Director – Marian Bach, LMHC, CAP