Cost of 30-day addiction recovery therapy prohibitive

Place A wanted $1,000 via insurance for a three to five day stay in detox. This was at First Step in Sarasota. They could not guarantee me my insurance would pay for a 30-day residential, so I didn't pay for February's premium (a silver plan from the marketplace, Aetna silver with a $1,000 deductible). I then looked toward Centerstone in Manatee County.

After spending eight hours in the "Access Center," I was finally taken into the back and was told they can get me a bed! It was nerve wracking.

But it was for the three to five day "detox" which, even the doctors agreed, would be of no help if I didn't have a 30-day program waiting for me. While waiting for the entire day, I noticed many people leaving detox and, medically not going to die, yet if I was a gambling man I'd say 90 percent relapsed that same day.

I finally am coming off medicine they put me on to get me off drugs at age 21. I'm 31. Finally I am in a place in life where I have the time, money, and willingness to do this and not be a slave to a doctor and pharmacy.

So, $10,000 for a 30-day program? This knee jerk "silver" Aetna plan apparently doesn't consider the "30-day inpatient stay" medically necessary. It seems as if I'm running in circles.

I just want help and it seems to me that the state of Florida doesn't want to help.

Addiction is a horrible nightmare, yet a money-making machine -- from the recovery side to maintenance medicine doctor side.

Please help, Centerstone, please help.

Jack Cole

Bradenton

This story was originally published February 19, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Cost of 30-day addiction recovery therapy prohibitive ."