Dozens of Florida Rehab Centers are attempting to lure people from the Northeast to their facilities based on weather conditions, even though their programs are often less effective and more expensive.
PRLog - Nov. 12, 2013 - STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- As winter approaches in the Northeast, the “destination rehabs” in Florida mount an aggressive campaign to lure people with addiction problems to their facilities. Industry reports suggest that 2013 may represent the largest annual campaign to date, as expanding Florida facilities seek to fill their beds. Many rehab centers are concerned by what they believe are unethical or misleading marketing tactics that often lead to greater hardship for the addicted person.
“We hear too many stories of families in the Northeast being misled by the sales pitches from the rehabs in Florida,” stated Michael Campbell, president of St. Joseph Institute for Addiction near State College in central Pennsylvania. “People are given incomplete information about their insurance coverage, too little information about the treatment program, and no warning about the hidden costs they may incur. It is not uncommon to hear that the promised insurance coverage lasted for only a short time, requiring an out-of-pocket cost of $10,000 to $20,000, or that the treatment center was very different from the pictures and description on the website.”
A woman from Pittsburgh recently described her experience in the following words: “I was searching the Internet for rehabs in Western PA and called one of the facilities listed. The program sounded great, they said they took our insurance, and we were well into the admission process before they told us they were located in Florida. We flew my daughter down – and then the problems began. Housing was in a series of townhouses in busy neighborhoods, and the residents were bused to a center for the program. Our insurance only covered four days, and we had to self-pay almost $20,000. The individual counseling was minimal, and no effort was made to create an aftercare program.”
To help people avoid costly mistakes concerning treatment for someone with addiction, St. Joseph Institute provided the following recommendations:
1. Identify with whom you are talking: When calling a facility you find on the Internet, immediately ask where they are located. Many Florida rehabs have websites in all 50 states and get top Google ranking as rehabs listed in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Boston, Cincinnati, or Buffalo. Only after they have your personal information, and the admission process has begun, do you realize that the location is in Florida.
2. Accepting insurance is only the beginning: There is no pre-authorization for addiction treatment and many insurance companies are very reluctant to help the addict or alcoholic. Insurance plans may have admission criteria that rule out people seeking treatment at the front door. Before you invest in a plane ticket, you need to know the “fine print” in your plan, and the experience a rehab facility has had working with an insurance company like yours. A good facility will do its very best to ensure there are no “financial surprises.”
3. Consider the need for family counseling: Relationship problems are one of the top three reasons for relapse. Many people need to start family counseling while in rehab and their families need to learn how to break the patterns of enabling and emotional dependency that are so often present with addiction. You may need to think twice about where to go for treatment if your family cannot afford to fly down and join you for family sessions.
4. Aftercare planning is critical: Recovery from addiction requires a strong aftercare program with lots of community support. Ask questions about a rehab’s aftercare planning, how familiar they are with services in your area, and the type of help they will offer after you leave for home.
5. Don’t trust the pictures: Florida has some of the most exclusive rehabs in North America, but also some that are located in tired motels that could no longer attract tourists. Make sure the pictures are real and the facility is of a standard that you find acceptable.
6. All rehabs are not the same: There are many different approaches to addiction treatment. You need assurance that the program selected is right for you. Do they offer one-on-one counseling, and if so, how much? If you suffer from trauma, abuse, PTSD, anxiety or depression, inquire as to whether there is expertise in these areas, and if help will be part of your program. Many experts encourage families to ask questions about the credentials of the professional staff, ensuring that counselors have at least a master’s degree.
“Addiction treatment can be critical to saving your life. Chose it carefully, and do not be swayed by the false marketing techniques that populate the Internet. Remember that while the Northeast does not have palm trees and warm weather in February, it has some excellent treatment facilities and top addiction professionals. My advice: focus on getting well, overcoming your addiction, and establishing a strong recovery. Then reward yourself with a nice Florida vacation,” added Campbell.
St. Joseph Institute for Addiction is a leading drug and alcohol treatment center located near State College, Pennsylvania.
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Florida Rehabs Target Addicts & Alcoholics in the Northeast
November 12, 2013 at 15:47 PM EST
