How to pay for rehab in Dallas
Your options with insurance, with Medicaid, or with no coverage at all.
The short answer
The main ways to pay for rehab in Dallas are private insurance, Medicaid if you qualify, state-funded care, and free or nonprofit programs. If you have no insurance, a good first call is OSAR for Dallas County at 844-275-0600.
Ways to pay, and what to know
- Private insuranceWhat plans must cover and how to check your benefits.
- Texas MedicaidWho qualifies in Texas, and what to do if you do not.
- State-funded treatmentHelp for Texans who cannot pay on their own.
- Free and nonprofit programsDallas programs marked free, low cost or nonprofit.
- What rehab costsWhat drives the price and what to ask.
- Time off workHow FMLA leave works for treatment.
A simple order for your calls
- Call your insurer, or OSAR if you have no insurance
- Call the program and ask what you would owe
- Ask for the cost in writing before you start
If you have insurance
Start with the member number on your card. Ask what your plan pays for each type of care, which Dallas programs are in network, and what you would pay yourself. A program can often check your benefits too, but your insurer has the final word. Our page on private insurance lists the words you will hear.
If you have no insurance
You still have options. OSAR stands for Outreach, Screening, Assessment and Referral. It is the state’s starting point for people who want help and are not sure where to begin. North Texas Behavioral Health Authority runs it for Dallas County.
The SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 is free and open all day and night. SAMHSA says it can refer people with no insurance to the state office for funded programs, and can often point to places that charge on a sliding fee scale. A sliding fee scale means the price depends on your income.
Texas also limits who can get Medicaid as an adult, so read how Texas Medicaid works before you count on it.
If a program says it cannot take you
One no is not the final answer. Ask the program why, and ask who it would call in your place. Then try the next option on this page. Waits and rules differ from one program to another, so a second call can turn up something the first one did not. Family members can make these calls too, and it is fine to ask for time to think before you agree to anything.
Keep notes as you go. Write down who you spoke to, the date and what they said. If you get two different answers, those notes will help. Ask for anything about money in writing.
If someone is in danger, call 911 first and sort out the cost later. See who to call.
If one of these fits you
Veterans. VA health care covers substance use treatment. See care for veterans.
Pregnant women and mothers. Medicaid limits are higher during pregnancy, and Texas funds residential programs where children can stay. See care for women.
Parents of teens. Texas funds separate youth programs, and children have their own Medicaid and CHIP rules. See care for teens.
Working adults. Paying for care is one worry and keeping your job is another. Our page on time off work covers the second.
Questions to ask about money
- Do you take my insurance or Medicaid?
- What would I owe up front?
- Do you have a sliding fee scale?
- Can I see the cost in writing?
Common questions
Can I get into treatment with no money?
Often, yes, though it may take some calls. State-funded and nonprofit programs exist for this reason. Start with OSAR at 844-275-0600, then read about free and nonprofit programs.
Does this site know what a program charges?
No. Programs set their own prices and change them, so we do not list them. Our page on what rehab costs explains what to ask.
Who pays if I am helping a family member?
Usually the coverage of the person in treatment is what counts, not yours. A parent’s plan may cover a child. Ask the insurer, and read about helping a family member.
Will I lose my job if I go to treatment?
Federal leave rules protect many workers, with limits. Read about time off work before you talk to your employer.
