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Using Insurance to Pay for Rehab

Most commercial health plans include coverage for substance use treatment, but your costs depend on your plan, provider network, and level of care. 

San Antonio Recovery Center can help you understand which insurers we work with, what your plan may cover, and what you could pay. You can verify your benefits in just a few minutes.  

The quickest path to an actual number: verify your insurance online or call 866-957-7885. There is no obligation, and we will tell you honestly if we are not a fit.

Payers We Work With

Aetna: Aetna plans often include benefits for detox, residential care, and outpatient treatment. See Aetna rehab coverage for specifics.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas: One of the largest commercial insurers in Bexar County. Check BCBS Texas rehab coverage to see how your plan applies.
United Behavioral Health/Optum: UnitedHealthcare behavioral health benefits run through UBH/Optum. Learn what that means at United Behavioral Health rehab coverage.
Cigna: Cigna plans commonly include substance use disorder benefits. Verify yours in about two minutes.
Humana: Humana commercial plans often cover medical detox and residential treatment. Check your benefits.

Don't see your plan listed? Many people are still covered through out-of-network benefits, single-case agreements, or cash-pay arrangements. Call 866-957-7885 and we will check for you.

What Insurance Typically Covers by Level of Care

Insurance does not authorize "rehab" as a single package. Coverage gets approved level by level, usually tied to medical necessity and reviewed at set intervals.

Level of Care

What It Is at SARC

How Insurance Usually Treats It

Medical Detox

24/7 supervised withdrawal management at our Culebra campus

The most commonly covered level when withdrawal management is medically necessary, usually authorized in short blocks and reassessed as you progress

Residential Treatment

Live-in residential care at Culebra or Cagnon

Often covered when medical necessity is met, though authorized length varies by plan and gets reviewed periodically

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

Day treatment at our San Pedro location, going home at night

Widely covered, and frequently the step-down level plans approve most easily

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Several sessions weekly, including evening IOP

Widely covered, typically with the longest authorization window

Outpatient and Aftercare

Ongoing clinical therapy and alumni support

Commonly covered as outpatient behavioral health, often with a per-session copay

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Medication combined with therapy, where appropriate

Usually covered under medical or pharmacy benefits, which may be separate from behavioral health coverage

Three factors drive your real cost more than anything else:

How much of your deductible you have already met

Your coinsurance or copay

Whether SARC is in network under your plan.

A benefits check answers all three in one call.

How Verification Works

Three steps. No cost. No commitment.

Send your information. Fill out the insurance verification form with your carrier, member ID, date of birth, and phone number, or call 866-957-7885 and give the details directly to an admissions specialist. It takes about two minutes.

We call your insurer. Our team checks whether SARC is in network, which levels of care your plan covers, your deductible and coinsurance, and whether pre-authorization is required.

We call you back with real numbers. Not a promise of coverage, but a clear picture of what your plan pays, what you would likely owe, and what your options are if it falls short. If we are not the right match, we will say so and point you elsewhere.

Verification stays confidential and creates no obligation to admit.

No Coverage? Accessible Cash Rates

Not everyone carries commercial insurance, and not every plan covers what a person needs. That does not close the door.

Cash-pay rates. SARC offers accessible self-pay pricing across levels of care.

Partial coverage plus self-pay. When a plan covers part of a recommended course, the rest can often be arranged as self-pay.

Right-sized level of care. PHP and IOP cost significantly less than residential treatment and work well for many people clinically. Sometimes the more affordable option is also the right one.

Out-of-network benefits. Many plans reimburse part of out-of-network care. Verification tells you if yours does.

For more detail on treatment costs, see the cost of rehab and how to afford a drug recovery center.

What We Don't Accept

SARC does not bill Medicaid or Medicare. If you have either plan, private-pay options may still be available.

If private pay is not right for you, SAMHSA’s treatment locator can help you find programs that accept public insurance, and the SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) is free, confidential, and open 24/7.

We also cannot take:

Plans where SARC is out of network with no out-of-network benefit or self-pay option available
Referrals where substance use is not the primary treatment need. We treat substance use disorders, including alongside co-occurring mental health conditions through dual diagnosis care, but we are not a primary psychiatric facility, and safety exclusions apply

We would rather deliver this news on the first call than after you have already arranged time off work.

Find out exactly what your plan covers. Verify your insurance or call 866-957-7885. Two minutes, no cost, no obligation, and a straight answer either way.

Insurance and Rehab: Common Questions

Does Insurance Cover Drug and Alcohol Rehab?

Most commercial plans include substance use disorder benefits under the Affordable Care Act. What you owe depends on your plan, network status, and level of care. A benefits check confirms the details for your situation.

Does SARC Accept Medicaid or Medicare?

No. SARC works with commercial insurance plans and offers accessible cash-pay rates. If Medicaid or Medicare is your only coverage, findtreatment.gov and the SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) can direct you to Bexar County providers that accept public insurance.

Will Using Insurance for Rehab Be Visible to My Employer?

No. Your employer does not see your medical records or treatment details. Health information stays protected, and substance use treatment records carry extra federal protection under 42 CFR Part 2. Talk to admissions if you have specific concerns.

How Long Will My Insurance Cover Treatment?

Plans typically authorize a level of care for a period, then review it against medical necessity as treatment continues, so coverage length is not fixed upfront. Our team manages authorizations and reviews with your insurer throughout your stay and keeps you informed.

What if My Deductible Has Not Been Met?

You are generally responsible for the remaining deductible before your plan starts paying its share. Verification tells you the exact amount, so there are no surprises, and self-pay can often bridge the gap.

Can I Get Treatment With No Insurance at All?

Yes. SARC offers accessible cash-pay rates, and choosing the right outpatient level of care makes treatment affordable for many people. Call 866-957-7885 and we will walk through your options honestly.

Sources

Healthcare.gov (n.d.) Mental Health and Substance Abuse Coverage. Available at: https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/mental-health-substance-abuse-coverage/ (Accessed: 18 August 2026).
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (n.d.) SAMHSA. Available at: https://www.samhsa.gov/ (Accessed: 18 August 2026).
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (n.d.) FindTreatment.gov. Available at: https://findtreatment.gov/ (Accessed: 18 August 2026).