Jointly funded by the federal and state governments, Medicaid is state-administered health insurance for low-income and needy individuals, including adults, children, the elderly, and the disabled. Coverage for substance abuse treatment under Medicaid was greatly expanded under the ACA. Currently, Medicaid is required to cover all basic aspects of substance abuse treatment, including detox, inpatient and outpatient services, medication, recovery maintenance and relapse prevention services, and more. Levels of coverage vary by state, though, so be sure to check your state’s Medicaid program for more information.

Medicare is the federal government’s health insurance program primarily for persons 65 years and older, but also provides coverage for certain younger people with disabilities and individuals suffering End-Stage Renal Disease. There is no distinct Medicare benefit category for the treatment of substance abuse. However, substance abuse disorders are generally covered under Medicare, as long as the services are deemed “reasonable and necessary.” This may include inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment, outpatient hospital services, medication-assisted treatment, medications, and more. In most cases, patients are responsible for applicable deductibles and copayment or coinsurance amounts. Again, check with your specific provider for details on what is covered under your Medicare plan.

TRICARE is the main source of health care coverage for veterans upon their retirement or separation from active duty. TRICARE substance abuse treatment benefits may include, among others, inpatient services, intensive outpatient programs, detox, medication-assisted treatment, opioid treatment programs, partial hospitalization programs, mental health therapeutic services, and residential substance use disorder treatment. Deductibles and copayments may apply. Veterans may additionally be eligible for certain inpatient substance abuse services through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for providing federal healthcare services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. ITU funds are available to pay for substance abuse treatment at over 800 facilities and programs throughout the U.S.

Private health insurance is just that: insurance not publicly subsidized. That doesn’t mean it is free from governmental regulation, however. Private health insurance is subject to many of the same federally-mandated coverage requirements as publicly-subsidized insurance programs, including coverage for substance abuse treatment. While private insurance is the most expensive form to carry upfront, it is accepted by a much greater number of treatment providers, and typically provides its customers with a much wider variety of treatment options compared to publicly-subsidized insurance. Private insurance, for example, is more likely to cover longer inpatient and outpatient treatment periods, as well as luxury facilities, higher-end amenities, and holistic treatment options.

Levels and extent of coverage vary by specific insurer and policy, so be sure to check the details of your policy carefully. Contact your insurer or the treatment programs you’re considering for more information.

Credit cards are a common method used by patients and their families to help pay the upfront costs of rehab services. Credit cards provide convenient and quick access to cash that can help finance lifesaving treatment. But, as anyone who has ever used one (and who hasn’t) can tell you, credit cards come with high interest rates, making them particularly difficult to pay off. Therefore, it’s good advice to carefully consider your ability to make the necessary monthly payments before laying down your plastic to fund treatment. Tip: Consider taking out a new card with a 0% introductory rate that allows you some time before interest begins to accrue.

Personal loans are another option for those who may also qualify for a credit card. Like credit cards, personal loans are unsecured, meaning the borrower does not have to put up some form of property as collateral. Personal loans are typically offered by banks and credit unions, as well as a number of online providers, and are paid back over time, commonly in monthly installments. The main advantage of a personal loan is that it usually comes with a lower interest rate than a credit card, although not as low as a secured loan.

Sometimes the best place to turn for help to finance substance abuse treatment is one’s own family members and friends. This can be tricky, of course. Borrowing money from someone with which you have a close personal relationship can cause damage to that relationship if not handled with care. It’s good advice, therefore, to make sure that both parties clearly understand the terms the loan before it’s made. Strongly consider putting those terms in writing.

There are a few lenders that specialize in providing loans to persons specifically seeking substance abuse treatment funding. Two examples of such lenders are Prosper Healthcare Lending and My Treatment Lender.com. Advantages to special financing programs include affordable interest rates, longer payback periods, and convenient grace periods before starting repayment.

For those in a position to do so, taking out a second mortgage or home equity loan comes with a number of advantages over using credit cards or taking out an unsecured loan, most prominently a much more attractive interest rate. The downside is that such loans are secured by the home itself, meaning that if you default on the mortgage or loan, you stand to lose your home in foreclosure. So, as with all other payment methods discussed here, consider this option carefully.

Selling personal items may seem like a desperate and depressing option to help pay for treatment, but consider this: most addicts would gladly sell their personal possessions if it were necessary to pay for their next fix. If that’s the case with you, wouldn’t selling those possessions to pay for the treatment that might save your life be a much better choice?