Medical Aid Coverage For Inpatient Addiction Treatment

Will your medical aid cover the full 21 to 24 days of inpatient addiction treatment or will you face a shortfall?

Medical aid and Hospital Plan patients are usually covered for 21 days to 24 days of inpatient addiction treatment per year. In some instances, patients are responsible for a co-payment to cover the shortfall between what their medical aid covers and our costs.

For patients who are on a medical aid or hospital plan, the majority of their treatment costs are covered. Depending on your medical aid scheme and the package you’re on, these costs include medication, clinical costs, residential costs and fees related to consultations with health professionals which include doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, registered counsellors, occupational therapists and social workers.

For patients not part of a medical scheme or those who have utilised their annual benefits, a private rate is available. We also have a number of subsidised beds available for those who can’t pay the full fee’s. Please contact us to discuss on 081-444-7000.

Changes Addiction Rehab is approved and licensed by the DSD (Department of Social Development), the DOH (Department of Health) and the BHF (Board of Healthcare Funders)

Stabilising one person often stabilises the whole family.

Family sessions and education are built into the programme so relatives are not left in the dark. You get practical guidance on boundaries, relapse risk and what real support looks like.

Clients Questions

Why is it worth involving Changes early when you want to use a medical scheme for rehab?

Getting us involved early means authorisations, clinical letters and benefit checks are handled by people who speak the scheme’s language, which reduces delays, refusals and surprise shortfalls.

Why do different medical schemes fund addiction treatment so differently?

Schemes follow their own rules, risk pools and interpretations of what counts as essential care, so two families with the same problem can get very different benefits, and knowing those rules upfront helps you plan realistically.

What information do schemes and treating teams actually share?

Schemes see diagnoses, codes and clinical motivation, not full therapy notes, and with consent the team updates them on progress and risk without handing over every detail of your personal life.

How can families avoid nasty financial surprises mid admission?

Ask for written benefit confirmations, estimates of shortfalls, clarity on doctor and hospital billing, and be wary of anyone who refuses to talk numbers or tells you not to worry about costs at all.

What is the smartest way to balance medical scheme cover with real clinical need?

You use the benefits you have as far as they go, then decide with the team what level of extra cost is worth it for safety and long term stability, instead of letting either fear of money or blind faith in the scheme drive every decision.

Practical, Evidence-Based Counselling

Skills for cravings, triggers, and communication are practised in and out of sessions.