How Do I Compare Two Drug Rehab Centers?
If you have narrowed down your search and have found two drug rehab centers that you are looking at seriously, you have already taken an important step.
Now comes the hard part.
How do you decide which one is the right fit for you or your loved one?
The website for one may look better. The other may have some great reviews. One may have private rooms. The other might accept your insurance. One may boast that it is a luxury treatment center with excellent amenities, while the other talks about its clinical program, therapy, and highly educated staff.
So how do you compare them?
Do not compare the different drug rehab centers based on their website alone, or how the pictures of their facility look.
To compare them, you need to figure out what level of care your loved one actually needs, the clinical services they provide, who is treating patients, insurance, out-of-pocket expenses, accommodations, availability, and what happens after treatment.
A qualified clinician should assess which level of care is appropriate.
And if you are still having trouble deciding between two programs, Addiction No More can help you compare treatment options and identify questions to ask about which center might be a better fit.
What should I compare when choosing between two different drug rehab centers?
Start with these questions:
- What level of treatment does each program provide?
- Does either program provide medical detox?
- Does each program treat the specific substance involved?
- Is there treatment for co-occurring mental health problems?
- What is the clinical staff like?
- Is the program licensed and accredited?
- What therapies and treatment approaches are offered?
- Does the program accept your insurance?
- What will you actually have to pay?
- How quickly can the person be admitted?
- What are living accommodations like?
- How much family involvement is available?
- What happens after residential treatment ends?
- Will the program be able to handle special circumstances such as medications, chronic medical conditions, or previous treatment failures?
Once you compare the two programs side by side, you should be able to make a more informed decision as to which program would best suit you or your loved one.
Do not choose the rehab based on their website being the nicest.
This is a mistake people can make.
A really nice website doesn’t tell you much about what happens when someone checks in.
Some treatment programs spend a tremendous amount of money marketing their websites.
This doesn’t automatically mean that they provide better treatment.
Look past the photographs.
Ask about the actual program.
- Who provides treatment?
- Is there a medical professional involved?
- What happens if someone has a mental health condition in addition to addiction?
- What happens if they experience withdrawal?
Those answers are more important than whether the facility has a swimming pool.
How important is accreditation?
It matters.
Ask whether the facility is properly licensed and if it holds accreditations from recognized organizations.
You can also verify treatment facilities through government treatment directories and state licensing resources.
Accreditation should not be the only thing you look at. It is one piece of information about a program’s oversight, and it does not guarantee treatment outcomes.
Which rehab has the best clinical program and staff?
This might be the most important comparison.
Don’t just ask, what therapy do you offer?
Ask for specifics. For example:
- How often will my loved one meet with a therapist?
- Is there a psychiatrist or mental health professional available?
- Do you treat co-occurring mental health conditions?
- What happens in a typical day in your rehab?
- What if someone needs medication?
- How do you handle relapses during treatment?
You want to know what treatment takes place at the facility—not just a list of services displayed on a website.
If one is a luxury drug rehab and the other isn’t, this is where the comparison gets more complicated.
Luxury treatment programs may offer better amenities: private rooms, nicer surroundings, chef-prepared meals, fitness facilities, indoor pools, and other amenities.
These things do matter, especially for someone who values privacy, has a demanding career, owns a business, or simply is not comfortable with a traditional treatment environment.
Do not confuse luxury accommodations with better clinical care.
A beautiful rehab center facility with weak treatment isn’t necessarily a better choice than a less glamorous facility with an excellent clinical program.
If you are paying more for a private or luxury program, find out what you are getting for the additional cost.
What if both treatment facilities accept my insurance?
Don’t stop there; ask each facility:
- Are you in network with my specific plan?
- What level of care is covered by my insurance?
- What deductible will I be responsible for?
- How much money will my co-payment and co-insurance cost me?
- Do I need to get prior authorization before entering treatment?
- How many days are initially authorized?
- What happens if my insurance stops paying?
- What expenses are covered while in treatment?
Two different facilities may both accept the same insurance while leaving you with very different out-of-pocket expenses.
This is why verifying your actual insurance benefits before admission can be extremely important.
Confirm coverage with your insurer as well as the facility. A benefits check or prior authorization does not guarantee payment.
The cheapest rehab is not necessarily the best value.
If someone needs medically supervised detox, dual-diagnosis treatment, residential care, or a highly structured environment, choosing a cheaper program that doesn’t provide what they need could end up costing more in the long run.
And on the other hand, you shouldn’t automatically assume that the most expensive rehab is the best.
Compare what you are actually paying for.
Clinical care first, cost second, and the amenities should come after that.
What if one rehab can admit my loved one today?
This can be a major factor. If your loved one is ready for treatment right now, having availability really matters. Someone who finally agrees to go to treatment can change their mind today.
This doesn’t mean that you should send them to the first facility that answers the phone. But if two programs seem appropriate for your loved one, and one has a waiting list while the other has availability, that deserves serious consideration.
Staying Close to Home or Going Out of State
For some people, staying close to home and family matters. For others, getting away from the area, people, places, and things connected to their addiction may be helpful. Going out of state can also give families different treatment options, especially when local treatment facilities are full or don’t provide the level of care needed.
Do not automatically overlook a program that is far away. Instead, compare the entire treatment plan and make an informed decision as to which program would best work for your loved one.
Still Unsure Which Treatment Center Makes More Sense?
If you have narrowed it down to two treatment centers but are still unsure which one makes more sense, call Addiction No More at 1-800-513-5423.
Tell us what programs you are looking at and considering.
Tell Us:
- Where your loved one is located.
- What substances they’re struggling with.
- Whether they need detox.
- Whether they have been to rehab before.
- What insurance they have.
- Whether they want private accommodation.
- How quickly they need to start treatment.
- What concerns you may have about each facility.
We can help you look at options and help you determine what questions you should be asking before you make a decision.
We can help you look at the options and determine what questions you should be asking before you make the decision.
Don’t choose the one just because it looks great online.
Compare the treatment, the staff, levels of care, insurance, actual cost, availability, the living environment and the aftercare plan once they leave treatment.
If you are still stuck between the two programs, make the call, and we will help you compare your options.
