Take care when choosing a drug rehab facility. Not only are there thousands upon thousands of options out there with different programs, specialties, care levels, and price points to choose from but also unscrupulous people out there who prey on people in vulnerable positions and looking for help.
Rehab scams have become an unfortunate reality, leaving people financially exploited and with compromised care. Prevent yourself from becoming a victim of a rehab scam by learning what red flags to look for when choosing a drug rehabilitation program.
Most Common Types of Rehab Scams
Rehab scams come in various forms, ranging from the subtle to the outlandish. Here are some of the most common operations:
Patient referral schemes. By far, one of the most common types of rehab scams is an arrangement where a person receives a kickback for referring rehab patients, a practice known as patient brokering.
Their networks can be extensive and include a pipeline from treatment centers to sober living facilities. Not only are patients misled by people who don’t have their best interests at heart, but often put people in predatory situations that trap people in a cycle of exploitation.
Sober living homes masquerading as treatment facilities. Facilities may claim to provide comprehensive addiction treatment, but in reality, offer little more than substandard housing and minimal support services, if any.
Fraudulent insurance billing practices. Rehab facilities may engage in deceptive billing practices to collect more money from insurance companies. This may include upcoding, unbundling, and billing for services not rendered or involve patients being held at facilities longer than is necessary, or recommending treatments a patient does not need.
Bait-and-switch tactics. A rehab facility may advertise one level of care but then pressure patients to enroll in a more expensive (but inappropriate)program once they arrive. In some cases, scammers may promise perks like free travel or healthcare to get someone in the door, but eventually stop paying insurance premiums so patients must leave the facility and end up stranded.
The consequences of these rehab scams can vary, leaving some patients as the unwitting vehicles of fraud who are none-the-wiser while resulting in others being financially and often emotionally devastated. As terrifying as these risks may seem, there are some tell-tale signs of a rehab scam that make them easy to spot once you know what to look for.
4 Signs of a Rehab Scam
Asking about insurance first and your health second
Paying for rehab is a concern that’s top of mind for most people, so it’s not unusual for admission staff to ask you about your health insurance coverage at some point in the conversation. However, if that’s their first question or they refuse to give you additional information beforehand, that’s a red flag that could indicate you’re dealing with a patient broker and not someone who is prioritizing your health and well-being.
Offering to pay for travel or other expenses
A common tactic used to lure patients to out-of-state drug rehab facilities by patient brokers is to insist that the rehab or insurance company will cover travel costs. Legit drug rehabs might help you make travel arrangements but rarely (if ever) will they pay for it themselves — especially if pricey airfare and hotel accommodations are involved.
Lots of guarantees or promises
All scammers and patient brokers care about is getting you in the door and they’ll often make outlandish claims to convince you to take the leap. Reputable drug rehabs would never claim to have a 100% success rate or guarantee being “cured” within a certain timeframe. They understand that addiction is a complex condition of both the mind and body and can’t be resolved in a mere month. If you feel like a program or facility is too good to be true, it probably is.
Vague or unclear services and programs
Another sign of a drug rehab scam is a lack of details about things like the facility, the treatment program, or the staff. They may change the topic, or try to gloss over your question when you try to ask for specifics. If they can’t provide specific information, run.
Frequently Asked Questions to Avoid Being Scammed
- What is the facility’s treatment approach and how is it tailored to individual needs?
- What qualifications and experience do the staff members have?
- What is the facility’s success rate in terms of long-term recovery outcomes?
- How does the facility handle emergencies or unexpected situations?
- What is the facility’s policy on visitation, communication, and family involvement?
- What types of aftercare and support services are provided upon completion of the program?
Another reliable way to find out how to tell a legit rehab from a fake one is to talk to others who have already gone to rehab. Your local AA or NA meeting group will likely have people who would be willing to share their experience and provide invaluable real-world insight you can apply when talking to a facility’s admissions team. Find an AA meeting near you today.
