11 Jan Will My Health Insurance Pay for Sober Living in Delray Beach?
Treatment for addiction does not end after someone completes a treatment program. Instead, people in recovery must find ways to stay active and engaged in treatment for the rest of their lives. This is especially important in the early days of sobriety after graduating from rehab.
After leaving the structured and supportive environment of rehab, many people feel that they aren’t quite ready to plunge into a new routine. For some, spending time in a sober living house is the perfect middle ground between the structure of rehab and the total freedom of their daily lives.
If you or someone you love are in recovery or require substance abuse treatment, you may wonder about what insurance will and won’t cover. Knowing what to expect and planning on how you will pay for treatment will help you avoid surprises down the road.
Unfortunately, insurance providers do not pay for sober living homes because they aren’t considered medical, mental, or behavioral health treatment. While sober homes do provide support for individuals who are in recovery, they are not considered a form of therapy or treatment, and therefore, are not covered by insurance.
Even though your health insurance won’t pay for sober living in Delray Beach, most sober residences are affordable and accept rent payments on a weekly or monthly basis. This makes sober living affordable for anyone regardless of their budget.
Benefits of Sober Living in Delray Beach
For many people, sober living communities offer a safe environment where they can live after completing rehab. But what exactly is a sober living house?
In a sober living house or community, residents live with peers who are also in recovery. A staff member may also live on the premises to provide guidance and support, and to enforce rules related to health and safety. Some of the benefits of sober living include:
- Small groups–usually fewer than 10 residents
- Community of peers in recovery
- Ongoing support
- Assistance with job and housing search
- Connection and coordination with community resources
- Routine and rules to promote a safe, calm environment
Sober living homes offer many of the benefits of treatment, including structure, support, and community, but allow people a lot of freedom to work, go to school, or socialize as they choose. While sober living homes are not a form of addiction treatment, they can be an important part of people’s success in recovery after completing rehab.
Will My Insurance Pay for Sober Living?
Because sober living is not considered substance abuse treatment, it is unlikely that insurance will cover it.
After the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurance companies were required to cover the costs associated with substance abuse and mental health treatment. However, sober living is not included in this type of coverage because it is considered to be a form of supportive living–not treatment.
While living in a sober living house, residents are required to continue recovery-related activities such as ongoing therapy, 12-step groups, and medical and mental health treatments. These treatments are likely to be covered by health insurance.
Alternatives to Having Your Insurance Pay for Sober Living
If you need the structure and support of sober living, it is important that you go, regardless of cost. Often, one of the rules that residents must follow when living in a sober living house is that they must be employed. This is generally how people pay rent in their sober living house.
If you need help finding a job or managing your employment, the staff at a sober living house may be able to help. If you are unable to work or you are going to school, you will still be responsible for the cost of the rent. Many people borrow money from friends or family, apply for grants, or borrow from savings to pay for rent in a sober living home.
Some sober living homes allow a grace period during which individuals are given time to find a job and come up with rent money. If you don’t think you’ll be able to afford sober living, speak with the house manager about working out a payment plan.
In the long run, you may find that sober living is more affordable than paying rent at your own place. Your sober home rent usually includes utilities and is shared among other members of the household, making the total cost for each individual very cheap.
Find a Supportive Sober Living Community in Delray Beach, FL
If you or someone you love requires support during addiction recovery or you want to learn more about starting an addiction treatment program, please reach out to the staff at the Florida Recovery Group. We know that finding high-quality, effective addiction treatment and aftercare programs can feel overwhelming. Our staff will work with you and your insurance company to make the process as easy as possible so that you can focus on what matters most–your recovery from addiction.
Don’t wait another day to get the help you need and deserve. Call to speak to one of our admissions counselors today.
