Tackling the Top Barriers to Treatment

This article is by Audra Franchini and published by RCA

 

Over 20 million American adults suffer from a substance use disorder, yet a majority don’t seek treatment.

Why?

The reasons vary, but there are a few common reasons people don’t seek help for their addictions – and it’s not always because they aren’t ready. It can be because of insurance, the fear of losing their job, or something else.

Here are the top barriers that may prevent someone from seeking addiction treatment:

Treatment is too expensive

A lot of people think they can’t afford to get help – maybe because insurance plans didn’t always cover substance use disorders. But since the Affordable Care Act now requires insurance plans to cover mental health disorders – which includes substance use disorders – things have changed.

Reputable addiction treatment facilities accept insurance to keep treatment affordable for all. If someone doesn’t have insurance or if your insurance is out-of-network, Recovery Centers of America will estimate the cost and provide convenient payment options to fit your budget.

In other words, you will have an estimated cost of your treatment with RCA before you enter our facilities.

If you can’t afford your deductible or you’re paying for treatment out-of-pocket, we will connect you with FinPay, our third-party payment plan provider, who will help you figure out an interest-free payment plan.

Loss of employment

It’s a question a lot of people ask themselves: Can I lose my job for entering addiction treatment?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states substance abuse is considered a disability. In fact, because of this ADA designation, substance abuse disorder treatment is considered a Serious Health Condition by U.S. federal regulations and eligible for FMLA protection. If your job doesn’t provide FMLA, you may still be able to apply for an ADA accommodation.

It’s a lot to take in. That’s why RCA provides Financial Counselors and Case Managers to help you through this process.

Legal issues

Life doesn’t stop when you enter addiction treatment – so things pop up, like legal issues. A lot of people think they can’t enter addiction treatment if they have pressing legal matters.

For example, if you have a pending DUI charge or will miss a court date if you enter treatment, RCA’s Case Managers will contact the appropriate parties to reschedule. Your Case Manager will also write letters to your attorney and courts to let them know you’re in treatment and are seeking help to get on the road to recovery. They’ll also make sure to keep the lines of communication open for any legal proceedings that are in the midst.