Level of care
Six clinically distinct levels — from outpatient through medically managed inpatient. The right one depends on withdrawal risk, co-occurring conditions, and home stability. Matching it is a clinical judgment, not a sales pitch.
Understand before you decide
Addiction treatment has more variation than the industry admits. Start by understanding what you are choosing between.
Not every program is a fit for every situation. This site is an orientation — to what treatment actually looks like, what it costs, and what questions to ask before admission.
Path 1
If you are considering treatment for yourself
Start with a 2-minute self-assessment, then read the guide to levels of care.
Self-assessment →Path 2
If you are helping a loved one
The family guide walks through the conversation, the logistics, and what to expect.
Family guide →Path 3
If you are checking what insurance will cover
Ten-insurer coverage analysis, plus a cost estimator for your specific plan.
Coverage analysis →Core concepts
The four things that actually determine what happens next.
Most published guidance skips the mechanics. These four are the ones that shape outcomes in practice — and the ones that most families learn about the hard way.
MAT availability
For opioid use disorder, medication-assisted treatment cuts mortality by roughly half. Programs that refuse to allow it are working outside the current evidence base. Ask explicitly.
Insurance reality
Under the 2024 federal parity rule, every major insurer must cover medically necessary substance-use treatment at parity with medical care. In practice: deductibles, in-network lists, and prior-auth hurdles still matter — and now they are auditable.
Aftercare, not admission
Most relapse happens in the 90 days after discharge. The strength of the aftercare plan is the single best predictor of whether the work holds. Ask about it before admission, not during discharge planning.
Costs
What treatment actually costs (before insurance).
Sticker prices are wider than most families expect. The same 30-day residential stay can list at $15,000 or $38,000. Here is the range, by level of care.
| Level of care | Duration | Sticker range | With commercial insurance (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical detox | 5–7 days | $4,000 – $12,000 | Deductible + 20–30% coinsurance |
| Residential | 30 days | $15,000 – $38,000 | Deductible + coinsurance to OOP max |
| Partial hospitalization | 20 days | $7,000 – $18,000 | Deductible + 20–30% coinsurance |
| Intensive outpatient | 8–12 weeks | $3,500 – $9,000 | Often the most accessible level |
| MAT (buprenorphine) | Long-term | $1,500 – $4,000 / year | Typically Tier 1/2 generic |
Toolkit
Everything on this site, in one map.
Self-Assessment
2-minute DSM-5 screening. Your answers stay in your browser.
Cost Estimator
Ballpark out-of-pocket by program type + insurance.
Directory
21,500+ SAMHSA-verified facilities, searchable.
By State
State-level pages with local context.
Programs
Six levels of care explained clinically.
Coverage Analysis
Ten insurers, what each covers, how to appeal.
Journal
Recent entries
What 'Medically Necessary' Actually Means in an Insurance Denial
The phrase "not medically necessary" sounds objective. It is not. It is a contested technical standard — and under the 2024 federal parity rule, it is now auditable. Here is how to...
The Six Levels of Addiction Care, Explained for People Who Do Not Already Know
Most people searching for rehab do not know there are six distinct levels of care, each appropriate for different clinical situations. This is an orientation — what each level actu...
Directory
21,568+ verified centers across all 50 states
Sourced from the federal SAMHSA Treatment Locator. Refreshed quarterly.
When you are ready
A counselor can help narrow the options to your specific situation.
Free, confidential, 24/7. Insurance benefits verified on the line. No pressure.
(866) 777-GUIDE