According to the CDC, in 2020, 31.6 million people of all ages were uninsured. The figures have been rising steadily, given that in 2017 the number of uninsured persons of all ages was 28.5 million. Unfortunately, the United States remains the largest and most prominent county in the world without universal healthcare. According to an article on Byrdie.com, for perspective, there are 32 countries with universal healthcare, yet, interestingly, on a per capita basis, the U.S. spends more than double the $3,453 average spent by all developed and developing countries in healthcare. Americans with lower-than-average income are also more likely to avoid necessary doctors’ visits when sick, fill prescriptions or seek follow up care.
Access to healthcare is something our country should not take for granted. At Cove Recovery, we understand how critical the need for addiction treatment can be, and if someone needs help with their substance use disorder right now, we are not going to let anything stand in the way of them getting it.
Medicaid and Medicare and most individual and small group health insurances recognize substance use disorders and mental health as two of the most in demand types of treatment.
So, how can you access affordable, convenient therapy, no matter where you are in Ohio?
Access treatment online.
As far as affording treatment goes, the cost of telehealth addiction treatment is often a deterrent for those who need help, but it doesn’t need to be. Remote therapy, such as Cove Recovery accepts commercial insurance as well as Medicaid and Medicare plans in Ohio.
For Ohioans, Cove Recovery is also the most appropriate for busy schedules as you do not have to factor in commute time to and from your appointment, allowing for more free time in your day. Another advantage to virtual therapy for the summer is that if you are traveling on vacation, you can still keep up with therapy appointments from wherever you are.
Try an App.
There are numerous platforms for addiction treatment that you can access at your fingertips. For example, Talkspace and Betterhelp are great for people who can’t see a therapist in office, or if you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg. Most online therapy apps let you start with a free trial to see if their services are a good fit for your needs. Plus, it’s easy to sign up online.
Reach Out to Your Local Community Resources
Many college campuses have counseling centers that aim to serve people in their local communities at a very low cost on a sliding fee scale, or often times pro-bono in exchange for students enrolled in master’s level counseling courses to get hands on training. Coming from personal experience and at one time a master’s level counseling student, this is an incredibly beneficial option for both the counselor trainee and the person seeking therapy. If a student needs additional guidance when working with their patients, they are allowed to consult with other professionals and experts in their field confidentially which in turn gives the community that much more access to professional, quality therapy.
In more rural areas of Ohio, such as Bowling Green, Athens, or Oxford, the sites of Bowling Green State University, Ohio University, or Miami University, these are feasible options.
Local Ohio libraries and churches often have free or low-cost resources and services covered by Medicaid insurance. Even if you aren’t religious, many churches offer counseling services in-house, through appointed staff members or sometimes the pastor or priest if they are certified, usually at no cost.
There are many ways you can access online treatment for substance use disorder or addiction today. If you have limited resources or find yourself asking where in Ohio can I get quality treatment at an affordable rate, with or without insurance; then Cove Recovery is ready to help.
