Who Pays for Sober Living Homes?

Using Insurance or Health Benefits to Cover Recovery Residences

If you are looking for a sober living home or other recovery housing options, let’s first of all congratulate you! You’ve made leaps and bounds by seeking addiction treatment and being wise enough to know that long-term recovery means you need a supportive environment.

But now you might have a valid question on your mind: Who pays for sober living homes?

The addiction treatment team at Icarus Behavioral Health in Las Vegas understands the value of these transitional living spaces. Sober living facilities can be essential to successful aftercare planning, especially for those who have unstable housing or live in a home that could trigger a relapse of substance use disorders.

Please keep reading to discover the answer to a pressing question many have after substance abuse treatment: How can I pay rent for a sober living home?

Paying the Cost of a Sober Living Home After Addiction Treatment

Recovery homes, once called halfway houses (but let’s discard that stigmatizing term!), are an excellent solution for maintaining sobriety during the earliest stages of aftercare programs.

However, once the medical treatment portion of the recovery journey ends, many wonder how they can continue to make progress in the early recovery process.

Here are some ways residents pay rent and other expenses as they transition back to everyday life:

Paying Living Expenses with Personal Savings or Income

Those who are financially independent through a stable income or savings account may pay the full cost of rent out-of-pocket. While that sounds expensive, many sober living homes offer self-pay discounts.

Many have also done the math and discovered that most sober living homes are no more expensive than paying rent on an apartment. Sure, you are renting private rooms while sharing living spaces. But it’s a small price to pay for staying clean and sober.

Does Health Insurance Cover Sober Living Programs?

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Obamacare) requires insurance companies to comply with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Because of that government requirement, some assume the cost of a sober living home falls within the umbrella of insurance coverage.

But does insurance typically pay for sober living? Unfortunately not in most cases, though some forms of PPO plans and high premium plans do offer some coverage.

However, your insurance coverage probably will pay for some services related to your expenses. For instance, it may cover ongoing outpatient programs or therapies. Check with the sober living home under consideration to ask if they accept insurance coverage and whether they work with your health insurance provider.

Drawing from a Health Savings Account to Pay for the Sober Living Cost

If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you may be able to apply some of the funds to your sober living home. However, you may only be able to apply the funds if your healthcare professional deems them sober living costs.

An example of an allowable expense could be attending a drug or alcohol treatment program as an outpatient during the day and sleeping at the sober housing facility each night.

Many rules come into play with HSA spending, so research the various allowable expenses carefully before you commit the funds.

Some Living Expenses May Be Allowable for Medicaid Services

Medicaid does not cover the direct cost of recovery housing. Based on state-by-state rules, however, they may cover some rehabilitation programs, life skills training, or other necessary steps you might take after you’ve completed detox.

Grants Provide Government Assistance for Those at Risk of Unsheltered Living

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has grant opportunities that may provide rental assistance, including sober living facilities, for those who are unsheltered or meet other high-risk criteria.

SAMHSA recognizes that offering this financial assistance can help high-risk populations avoid relapse after completing a formal treatment program. The agency does not fund the cost of sober living homes in every instance; interested applicants must apply through their local social services case manager.

Look for a Non-Profit Sober Living Home

Some sober living environments are run by non-profits that support recovery. Some of these homes assess rent based on a sliding fee scale. For those newly out of drug abuse rehab and without a job, the cost might be free. For others, the cost of sober living is determined by earnings – but still nominal compared to private sober living homes.

Samaritan House is one of the best examples of this philanthropy here in Las Vegas. For over 50 years, it has served as a built-in support system for men transitioning out of incarceration and other gentlemen determined to end their struggles with substance abuse.

Residents must attend Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step Programs; these are in-house meetings to help those who lack transportation services. Samaritan House nurtures personal growth by offering resources for GED completion and job placement assistance.

Family Members and Friends May Pitch in to Pay For Sober Living Homes

We have seen countless times when loved ones have stepped up to the plate to help defray the cost of a sober living home. This support usually happens as a last resort. We have usually witnessed family members pooling resources when the insurance company doesn’t provide coverage, and medical professionals suggest their loved one still needs this additional support.

Miranda Sublet Her Apartment to Meet Sober Living Expenses

‘Miranda’ arrived at Icarus needing care for her physical and mental health. Her demanding job as a senior web content editor was high-powered and fast-paced. To keep up with the pressure, she had started using cocaine to keep the work flowing. She later discovered another, cheaper stimulant, methamphetamines, and grew addicted to the street drug.

The addiction to crystal meth left her covered in the scabs and infected sores associated with methamphetamines. We took a holistic approach to Miranda’s substance abuse treatment. Behavioral therapists administered individual and group counseling. She also learned more appropriate coping skills than using stimulants.

Also, she now knows how to set better boundaries. It seemed it would be a healthier way to manage job stress. Much to Miranda’s delight, the nurses at our rehab clinic ensured the sores healed. Eventually, the mental and physical scars of addiction faded.

Getting Comprehensive Help for Recovery

Because she could not afford to leave her pressure-cooker job (her health insurance covered her treatment costs and counseling), we recommended a sober living home. Miranda reviewed various sober living house characteristics and chose a home with private bedrooms and a nice swimming pool.

She sub-let her apartment to a travel nurse for three months. She hated giving up her place. But she also knew that only sober living homes would offer her the ongoing support she’d need to stay clean and sober.

Miranda returned to work full-time while living at a sober living home. She enjoyed the accountability and the coaching the facility offered during the transition back into her job. Miranda discussed more reasonable work conditions with the website’s publisher, who was relieved when she reported back.

Along with delegating some of her work, Miranda loves going to a yoga class two evenings a week and is working the 12 Steps of NA. She’s in a much better place professionally and personally.

Our Outpatient at Icarus Integrates with Sober Living Homes

Sober living homes are an excellent option if you want to come to Icarus for our partial hospitalization program or intensive outpatient program. Combining outpatient therapy by day and sober living homes at night can be an excellent solution.

You can receive the comprehensive care you need from Icarus, and then go home to support after therapy and programs each day.

If you are ready to explore residential treatment as a prelude to recovery residences and an integrated treatment plan, call the admissions team at Icarus Behavioral Health in Nevada today.