Rehab Costs In Johannesburg Private Versus Public Care
Are the higher fees of private licensed rehabs justified by safer, more effective care than under resourced public facilities in Johannesburg?
Most people searching for help are terrified of two things: the idea of treatment itself, and the cost of it. Money becomes the one question nobody wants to ask out loud, even though it’s usually the first one on their mind. The truth is simple: addiction treatment is professional healthcare, delivered by trained clinicians in a private facility — and like any professional service in South Africa’s private medical system, it comes with costs. But the myth that “rehab is unaffordable unless you’re rich” or that “private treatment is thousands of rands out of reach” usually comes from not knowing how medical aids work, not knowing what costs are actually involved, and not understanding the enormous financial damage untreated addiction creates over time.
At Changes Addiction Rehab, we don’t hide the numbers or bury them under hopeful language. We’re upfront because transparency gives families a sense of control at a time when everything else feels overwhelming. Primary Care — the intensive, medically structured first phase of treatment — is the cost most people need to understand clearly. Almost all reputable medical aids in South Africa cover a substantial portion of Primary Care treatment if the facility is fully licensed, and Changes is. Coverage varies by plan, but for most families, medical aid absorbs the majority of the clinical and residential cost during those critical first 21 to 24 days. Some people pay nothing out of pocket. Others pay a co-payment. Others use cash or partial self-funding. What matters is that the cost is not a barrier unless it goes ignored — and we work with each patient to build a realistic financial plan instead of handing them a bill and hoping for the best.
Confidential • Licenced • Support
Need help for yourself or a loved one?
Changes Rehab admissions for personal advice on treatment, medical aid or the next steps.
Why the Cost of Private Treatment Exists
Private addiction treatment exists because the government system is overwhelmed, underfunded, unpredictable, and in many regions inaccessible. State rehab has waiting lists stretching months. Detox beds are limited, psychiatric beds even more so. Many families simply cannot wait while their loved one spirals deeper into psychosis, overdose risk, or suicidal depression. Private care fills the gap — not because people want luxury, but because they need stability, safety, and evidence-based treatment delivered now, not when a bed might open.
Running a private rehab is not subsidised by the state. There are no grants, no government salaries, and no public resources offsetting the cost. Every clinician, nurse, psychologist, psychiatrist, occupational therapist, social worker, recovery assistant, and night-shift medic is fully funded by the facility itself. There are 24-hour medical obligations, emergency preparedness standards, psychiatric protocols, professional indemnity requirements, and stringent licensing regulations from the Department of Health, the Department of Social Development, and the Board of Healthcare Funders. The cost reflects the infrastructure required to keep people safe, detox them responsibly, diagnose co-occurring mental health conditions, and guide them through the most vulnerable stage of their recovery with a full clinical team — not a single counsellor trying to do everything alone.
Why Primary Care Is the First Cost to Understand
Primary Care is the most intensive phase of treatment and therefore the most structured, most supervised, and the cost most families want clarity on. It includes medical detox where needed, psychiatric monitoring, daily counselling, therapeutic group work, trauma stabilisation, sleep support, medical consultations, family systems intervention, and 24-hour clinical supervision. It is the safest environment for someone whose addiction has escalated beyond their control. This phase is typically 21 to 24 days, and almost all medical aids recognise it as medically necessary — which is why they cover it, provided the facility is properly licensed.
Patients without medical aid, or those whose benefits have run out, can enter treatment on cash rates. Private rates exist to make care accessible to people who cannot wait for medical aid cycles, who have gaps in their plans, or who prefer to self-fund. The important part is this: nobody arrives at Changes with a pre-set template. Costs are arranged around clinical need, not the other way around.
Bespoke Programs Mean Bespoke Costs
Not every person needs inpatient treatment, and not every person should be admitted. Some people come to Changes after an assessment and discover that an outpatient program is safer, cheaper, and clinically more appropriate. Some benefit from daily intensive outpatient work. Some need weekly therapy. Some join free support groups and family sessions while building up stability. Others need long-term residential care because their risk factors are high. Costs reflect these differences, because treatment is built around the individual, not around a one-size-fits-all package.
A working professional may attend a structured outpatient program while continuing work. A teenager might need family systems therapy rather than residential care. Someone coming out of relapse might need a short stay, not a full Primary cycle. A parent might join the free family support program for months before deciding on next steps. The point is simple: the cost depends on the level of risk, the phase of treatment, and the clinical plan — not on what someone is “sold.”
Inpatient Detox
Primary Care Rehab in Johannesburg
Changes’ primary facility accommodates 16 patients in Northcliff, Johannesburg. This intensive phase focuses on safe detox and withdrawal, dismantling denial, and building early recovery skills. Daily therapeutic modalities, 24-hour supervision with an experienced nurse, and nutritious, dietary-aware meals ensure a safe, comfortable start to treatment.
Why Licensed Care Costs What It Does
Licensed private rehabs must meet clinical, ethical, and safety standards that unregistered facilities cannot even attempt. That includes on-site medical staff, psychiatric oversight, recovery assistants trained to manage crisis escalation, detox infrastructure, documented treatment plans, multidisciplinary case meetings, legal compliance, healthcare audits, hygiene standards, meal provision, trauma-informed practice, and emergency protocols. This is not a retreat. It’s a medical environment where people arrive suicidal, psychotic, withdrawing, traumatised, volatile, or physically unstable. Treating addiction without proper licensing is not only dangerous — it’s illegal. Families are often unaware that South Africa is full of unregulated “rehab houses” charging “cheap” rates that end up costlier in the long run because they provide no medical safety, no clinical accountability, and no real treatment.
Quality treatment costs money because safety costs money, and private facilities cover those costs themselves. There is no state funding keeping the lights on or paying the salaries. What patients receive is a fully staffed, fully regulated environment built to the same standard as private psychiatric and medical facilities — because addiction is a medical illness, not a behavioural quirk.
Cash Rates
Some people don’t have medical aid. Others have medical aid that won’t cover the specific treatment cycle they need. Others choose to pay cash because they’re between plans or prefer the privacy of self-funding. Cash rates keep treatment accessible when medical funding isn’t available. They cover the same clinical services, the same medical team, the same 24-hour supervision, and the same therapeutic program. They exist because addiction doesn’t wait for fund allocations or plan upgrades. Cash rates allow people to get help immediately, not after “the right time” — because the right time is usually long before someone finally asks for help.
Here is a breakdown of the pricing:
- 24-day inpatient program: R47,000.00
- 28-day inpatient program: R52,000.00
- 42-day inpatient program: R70,000.00
- Secondary (long-term facility): R29,000.00
- Tertiary (halfway housing with outpatient programs): R24,000.00
Understanding What You’re Paying For
The cost of treatment reflects the level of clinical care required to stabilise someone whose addiction has reached a dangerous point. It includes 24-hour nursing — not security guards doubling as medical staff. It includes psychiatrists, not generalists. It includes psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, recovery assistants, and counsellors working together, not a single untrained “life coach.” It includes monitored detox, medical oversight, crisis management, structured therapy, trauma-informed practice, family systems intervention, and clinical decision-making based on evidence, not intuition.
When families compare costs, they often don’t realise they’re comparing a medical facility to a boarding house with a worksheet. The difference in cost reflects the difference in safety — and the difference in outcomes.
Finding the Right Financial Fit
No reputable rehab expects every family to fit into the same financial mold. At Changes, we examine medical aid benefits, family resources, clinical needs, risk factors, and long-term recovery goals before finalising a plan. Treatment doesn’t collapse just because someone can’t fund a long stay. We scale intensity. We build outpatient plans. We provide ongoing family support groups for free. We create pathways that reduce relapse risk instead of creating financial pressure that becomes its own crisis.
Addiction treatment should never feel like a sales pitch. It should feel like a partnership where the clinical team and family work together to design a plan that protects the patient — financially, emotionally, medically, and psychologically.
The Real Question Isn’t “What Does Rehab Cost?”
The real question is, “What will it cost if we don’t intervene?” Health decline, job loss, emotional collapse, family breakdown, children traumatised, legal consequences, medical emergencies, psychiatric admissions, and the unthinkable risk every family fears: overdose or death. Against that backdrop, treatment becomes not an expense, but an investment in keeping someone alive long enough to reclaim their life.
Families often fear the upfront cost of treatment without realising they’re already paying for addiction — just in slower, more painful ways. Untreated addiction drains a household financially long before anyone considers rehab. There are escalating medical bills, ambulance callouts, psychiatric emergencies, job losses, legal problems, stolen assets, debt, broken cars, failed relationships, missed workdays, and the emotional burnout that eventually destroys families. Addiction is one of the most expensive diseases a household can carry, not because treatment costs money, but because not treating it costs far more — emotionally, physically, relationally, and financially.
When people say, “Rehab is expensive,” what they usually mean is, “We didn’t plan for this.” And that’s understandable. No one budgets for rock bottom. But the moment addiction starts costing lives, health, relationships, and income, treatment becomes the most financially rational decision a family can make. Rehabilitation isn’t a luxury. It’s healthcare — and it prevents far more damage than it costs.
Assessment
A private clinical assessment clarifies risks, co-occurring concerns, and immediate next steps. We gather history, current symptoms, medications, and family input to match the right level of care. If admission is appropriate, we help you plan timelines and documentation so things move quickly. Learn how assessments work and what to expect on the day.
Withdrawal is managed under medical oversight to reduce risks and improve comfort. Nursing support is available 24/7, with medication protocols tailored to clinical need. Detox prepares patients for therapeutic work—sleep, nutrition, and stabilisation come first. See what to bring, typical timelines, and how we coordinate pre-authorisation.
The first 21–42 days focus on routine, safety, and daily therapy. Patients engage in individual and group sessions, psycho-education, and family contact where appropriate, supported by a multidisciplinary team. Primary care builds early momentum for change and prepares the plan for the next stage.
Secondary care deepens the work on patterns, triggers, and trauma in a calmer setting. With structured days, therapeutic groups, and coached routines, patients practise skills that hold at home. Families are updated and involved appropriately. Explore typical lengths of stay and why secondary care improves long-term outcomes.
For step-down care or when residential treatment isn’t possible, outpatient combines evening groups, one-to-one therapy, and accountability. The focus is integrating recovery into daily life—work, study, and family responsibilities—while maintaining structure and support.
Sober living provides a structured, supportive home environment with curfews, chores, coached routines, and ongoing therapy. It bridges the gap between inpatient treatment and independent living, reinforcing accountability and community while returning to work or study.
Patients learn how to spot risk early and respond fast—managing triggers, cravings, and high-risk situations. We build practical routines, communication plans, and support networks, with clear steps families can take too. See typical tools and how they’re practised before discharge.
Continuing care sustains progress after discharge: scheduled check-ins, group support, individual sessions where needed, and a plan for setbacks. We coordinate with families and community resources to keep recovery anchored in daily life.
Addiction and mental health treatment that connects the dots.
Changes Rehab Johannesburg has been in continuous operation since 2007, with a multidisciplinary team that treats substance use and co-occurring mental health issues under one roof.