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American Addiction Centers National Rehabs Directory

State-Funded & Government Addiction Treatment Programs

State-funded rehab centers offer a treatment option at minimal or no cost. These facilities commonly receive funding through government grants, which makes it possible for addiction treatment to be made available to uninsured people or those who don’t earn enough to afford the cost of rehab.1 One of the main reasons people don’t go to treatment is the cost, which can be prohibitively expensive.2 That is why state-funded rehab and government rehab centers are so important.

Find a State-Funded Drug & Alcohol Rehab Program Near You

Resources are available to help you find a state-funded rehab center. The Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator is offered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and can help you find treatment facilities.

Each state has an agency that oversees substance abuse treatment and services.3 The directory of single state agencies for substance abuse services, created by SAMHSA, is a comprehensive listing of these agencies and includes telephone, e-mail, and website information for each state agency. This information can be used for assistance in finding state-funded rehab facilities for low-income or underinsured people within your state.

In addition to these databases, it may be easier than you think to get at least a portion of your treatment covered by your insurance policy, whether you have private insurance or public coverage.

Checking with your insurance plan to see what is covered will let you know what your options are prior to examining government addiction treatment programs. Reach out to one of our admissions navigators at to find out what your insurance policy covers and to get the support that you need. You can also fill out the form below.

What Are State-Funded Addiction Treatment Programs?

State-funded rehabs provide treatment for free or at a very low cost. They can receive funding from a variety of sources, including grants from the federal government, state funds, and refunds from government health programs such as Medicaid.1,3,4

Various government programs disburse grants for substance use treatment and prevention, although each state has the freedom to allocate these funds as they see fit.3 This allows state-funded treatment centers to offer free or low-cost treatment to people who wouldn’t be able to afford treatment otherwise. In 2019, 45% of treatment facilities offered free or low-cost treatment for people who couldn’t afford care.1

Paying for Rehab with Medicare or Medicaid

Just because you have government insurance, don’t think that you are limited to government facilities. In fact, there are various private rehab facilities that may accept state-funded insurance. Reach out to our admissions navigators at to find out if you can go to a private rehab facility with your current insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid.

Medicare is a type of health insurance that is administered by the federal government.5 It is available for people over age 65, as well as younger people who are on dialysis or have specific disabilities.5

Medicaid is a federal and state-sponsored assistance program that provides medical coverage to certain qualified individuals and families.5 Medicaid is available to low-income families and children, women who are pregnant, people over a certain age, and disabled people.5,6 Additionally, in some states, adults who have income under certain limits are eligible for Medicaid, but this depends on the state.6,7

Many state-funded rehabs accept Medicare and Medicaid to make it easier to access treatment.2

What is the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a federal law that reformed various aspects of healthcare. It made it easier to get insurance coverage, required most plans to cover mental and behavioral health conditions at the same level as physical conditions, and ensured that people with preexisting conditions could obtain insurance.8,9

Under the ACA, insurance plans include coverage for addiction treatment, which may include:8,9

Who Qualifies for State-Funded Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs?

State-funded substance abuse programs commonly have strict eligibility requirements, especially since there are many applicants for limited program spots. While each state may have different requirements, you may be asked to provide information and evidence of citizenship, residency in the state where you’re seeking treatment, income, family size, and health insurance or lack thereof.4

How to Get into State-Funded Drug & Alcohol Rehab Programs

It can be hard to get into state-funded addiction rehab programs. These programs are in high demand and program availability tends to be very limited, so people seeking treatment in these programs are generally placed on a waiting list to start treatment.10,11

Wait times can range from several weeks up to 6 months.10,11 One survey found that 75% of people waited more than a month to get into treatment and more than 30% hadn’t been admitted after 90 days on a waiting list.10,11

If you are worried about the wait time to get into state-funded rehab centers near me, you may be able to get into a private treatment facility. Find out by contacting AAC to learn more about health insurance coverage for addiction treatment.

What’s the Difference Between State-Funded and Private Rehab?

While both state-funded and private, luxury or executive rehabs provide treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), there are differences between the facility types and what they offer. Read on to find out more about the difference between state-funded and private rehab.

State-Funded Rehab

State-funded programs depend on limited sources of funding that are used toward treatment rather than amenities. Only basic services may be offered, such as detox, individual and group therapy sessions, and inpatient treatment. Facilities tend to have shared bedrooms and basic meals.

State-funded facilities are closely monitored by state agencies, and all treatment techniques used must be evidence-based and shown to be effective in treating alcoholism and drug addiction.

Since state-funded rehabs have limited funding and space in their programs and long waitlists, it can take weeks or even months to get admitted into one of these programs. This can be discouraging to someone who is ready to get help now. This funding also translates into less staff, meaning that patients tend to get less individualized care.

Private Rehab

Private rehabs are covered by insurance and private payments and the cost is significantly higher. This can translate into luxurious amenities, including private rooms, gourmet meals, and spa-like options, such as massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture, yoga, and exercise facilities.

Private facilities generally use these techniques and incorporate cutting-edge or complementary techniques into treatment to help participants recover using all the tools at their disposal. Private facilities may incorporate creative art therapies, animal-assisted treatment, and family counseling, or specialize in treating mental health issues that occur along with addiction. You may be able to locate specialized treatment options, such as couples’ rehab programs or programs for LGBTQ+ people.

Private rehabs have increased sources of funding, so there may be a shorter time to get admitted to treatment. Additionally, this funding is used to hire additional staff, so treatment can be tailored to each patient through a lower patient-to-staff ratio.

Regardless of the differences between the programs, both types of facilities offer treatment that is effective at addressing addiction and helping people work on their recovery from substance abuse.

American Addiction Centers

American Addiction Centers (AAC) treats addiction through effective, evidence-based therapies and aims to help those who are dealing with addiction. You may be looking for inpatient or outpatient treatment and you might wish to locate 28-30 day, 60-day or 90-day programs. Whatever your requirements are, the help you need is waiting. If you want to get started on the path to recovery but aren’t sure what steps to take, you can contact our admissions navigators free at . Your call is confidential, and you’ll receive comprehensive information and answers to any questions you may have. You can also fill out the form below to get started, and there are free drug abuse and alcohol addiction hotline numbers you can call.

If you don’t have health insurance or the money to pay for rehab, recovery may seem hopeless. Fortunately, state-funded rehabs offer free or low-cost options that can help you or a loved one on the road to recovery. In many states, people who have income under a certain amount may qualify for health insurance programs like Medicaid, which can also help to make treatment more affordable. Recovery is possible.

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