TRUSTED CONTENTBefore insurance, addiction treatment in Virginia runs from about $40 to $930 per day, depending on how intensive the care is. Virginia centers gave RehabSeekers.com quotes of $6,000–$28,000 for a month of residential rehab and $230–$730 per day for medical detox. Partial hospitalization (PHP) was quoted at $7,500–$14,000 monthly, intensive outpatient (IOP) at $3,000–$10,000 and standard outpatient counseling at $1,200–$5,000.
Original data: RehabSeekers.com commissioned a team of researchers who called treatment programs in several Virginia cities, and in every other state, to log the self-pay prices quoted for 2027. Cardinal Care, a state-regulated health plan or your local community services board can shrink your share well below these figures. See how we did it.
On this page
What does each type of rehab cost in Virginia?
Per-day ranges before insurance, from round-the-clock detox down to weekly counseling. Each bar spans the cheapest and the priciest Virginia quote.
Source: RehabSeekers.com Rehab Cost Survey, 2027 prices quoted by Virginia programs.
Hours of care drive the bill. Residential programs include housing and 24-hour staffing, and the top Virginia residential quote reached $930 per day. Outpatient counseling, an hour or two a week, starts at $40 per day when spread across a month.
| Level of care | Cost per day | Cost per month | Typical (midpoint) | Typical length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical detox | $230–$730 | $7,000–$22,000 | $480 a day | 3–10 days |
| Residential (inpatient) | $200–$930 | $6,000–$28,000 | $17,000 a month | 30–90 days |
| Partial hospitalization (PHP) | $250–$470 | $7,500–$14,000 | $10,750 a month | 2–4 weeks |
| Intensive outpatient (IOP) | $100–$330 | $3,000–$10,000 | $6,500 a month | 4–12 weeks |
| Standard outpatient | $40–$170 | $1,200–$5,000 | $3,100 a month | 3 months or longer |
Source: RehabSeekers.com Rehab Cost Survey, 2027 prices before insurance. The midpoint sits halfway between the lowest and highest Virginia quote; a month counts as 30 days.
Does Cardinal Care (Virginia Medicaid) pay for drug and alcohol rehab?
Yes. Virginia Medicaid and FAMIS operate together as Cardinal Care, and the addiction benefit inside it is Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services, or ARTS. ARTS pays for every ASAM level of care, from early intervention to medically managed inpatient treatment, along with opioid treatment programs, office-based addiction treatment, peer recovery support and case management.
| ARTS service | ASAM level | Self-pay price in Virginia | Service authorization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medically managed intensive inpatient | 4.0 | Not priced in our survey (hospital level) | Yes |
| Residential | 3.1, 3.3, 3.5, 3.7 | $6,000–$28,000 a month | Yes |
| Partial hospitalization | 2.5 | $7,500–$14,000 a month | Yes |
| Intensive outpatient | 2.1 | $3,000–$10,000 a month | Yes |
| Outpatient | 1.0 | $1,200–$5,000 a month | No |
| Opioid treatment program or office-based addiction treatment | OTP / OBAT | Not priced in our survey | No |
Coverage and authorization: Virginia DMAS ARTS Provider Manual, Chapter IV (updated July 7, 2025). Prices: RehabSeekers.com Rehab Cost Survey, 2027, before insurance.
Detox works differently under ARTS. Withdrawal management is not billed as a level of its own; it is covered as part of inpatient care, residential levels 3.3 to 3.7, PHP, IOP, outpatient care or an OTP or OBAT program. The lowest residential level, 3.1, is not on that list.
- Your health plan runs the benefit. Addiction care is built into Cardinal Care’s managed care plans rather than carved out, and every plan must follow ARTS rules. Since July 1, 2025, the five plans have been Aetna Better Health of Virginia, Anthem HealthKeepers Plus, Humana Healthy Horizons of Virginia, Sentara Health Plans and UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic.
- No copays. DMAS and its plans stopped charging Medicaid and FAMIS copays and said they would not return after the federal public health emergency. CMS approved permanently removing FAMIS copays as of July 1, 2022.
- Residential stays have no per-person day cap. On July 31, 2026, CMS renewed the waiver that lets Medicaid pay for care in larger residential facilities, through December 31, 2031. Virginia aims for a statewide average residential stay of 30 days or less. That is a target, not a limit on any one person’s stay.
- Who can enroll. Coverage for adults under Medicaid expansion began January 1, 2019. Apply online through CommonHelp, by phone with Cover Virginia or at your local Department of Social Services.
- A program with a track record. DMAS launched ARTS in April 2017. In its first nine months, 16,600 members received addiction treatment, nearly two-thirds more than in the same stretch a year earlier.
January 1, 2027: new rules for expansion adults
Under the 2025 federal law known as H.R. 1, adults covered through Medicaid expansion must meet a work or community-engagement requirement and renew every six months. DMAS says people who have a substance use disorder, or who are enrolled in a treatment program, are exempt from the work requirement. The exemption does not replace renewal, so answer every notice to keep coverage during treatment.
Search programs that accept Medicaid to find Cardinal Care providers.
Estimate your Virginia rehab bill
Choose a type of care and drag the slider to the number of days you expect. Detox totals multiply the Virginia daily rate (the slider stops at 14 days for detox); every other level of care spreads the Virginia monthly rate across the days you pick.
These are estimates before insurance; your program’s quote may differ.
How much do 30, 60 and 90 days of rehab cost in Virginia?
At Virginia self-pay rates, a 30-day residential stay costs $6,000–$28,000, and three months costs $18,000–$84,000. Under its Medicaid waiver, Virginia aims for an average of 30 days or less for residential stays statewide; that is a target, not a limit on any one person’s stay.
| Length of stay | Estimated total before insurance | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 30 days | $6,000–$28,000 | Short-term stay; most people step down to PHP or IOP next |
| 60 days | $12,000–$56,000 | Allows more practice of relapse-prevention skills |
| 90 days | $18,000–$84,000 | NIDA says most individuals need at least 3 months of treatment |
Detox comes first for many people
Medical detox is priced by the day in Virginia, at $230–$730. Medical detox matters most for alcohol, opioid and benzodiazepine withdrawal.
| Detox length | Estimated total before insurance |
|---|---|
| 3 days | $690–$2,190 |
| 5 days | $1,150–$3,650 |
| 7 days | $1,610–$5,110 |
| 10 days | $2,300–$7,300 |
Stepping down lowers the total
A step-down sequence of detox, residential care, PHP and then IOP adds up to $21,110–$67,110 in Virginia before insurance. Every step after residential care costs less per day, so the timing of each step-down shapes the final bill. See PHP and IOP programs.
| Stage | Length | Estimated cost before insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Medical detox | 7 days | $1,610–$5,110 |
| Residential treatment | 30 days | $6,000–$28,000 |
| Partial hospitalization | 30 days | $7,500–$14,000 |
| Intensive outpatient | 60 days | $6,000–$20,000 |
| Full course of care | 127 days | $21,110–$67,110 |
Worked from RehabSeekers.com Rehab Cost Survey Virginia rates. A planning example, not a quote.
Can you get addiction treatment in Virginia without insurance?
Start with your community services board (CSB). The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) contracts with 40 CSBs, the public entry point for mental health and substance use care, and Virginia law requires every city or county to establish one (or a behavioral health authority).
- Same-day assessment. Under the STEP-VA initiative, all 40 CSBs now deliver the nine core services, including Same Day Access. CSBs completed 31,212 same-day assessments in fiscal year 2025.
- Fees follow what you can pay. Each CSB keeps a fee schedule, and its board must approve a method for judging each person’s ability to pay. Ask your CSB how its fees work before you start.
- Go local. A CSB serves people located in its service area, so contact the board for the city or county where you are.
- Services differ. Virginia Code § 37.2-500 makes emergency services, and case management subject to funding, the required core services. Substance use treatment is something a CSB may offer, so the programs available vary from board to board.
Our directory also lists state-funded and sliding-scale programs across Virginia, alongside private centers.
What does Virginia law require health plans to cover?
State-regulated individual and group plans in Virginia must cover substance use disorder treatment in parity with medical and surgical benefits, under Virginia Code § 38.2-3412.1. In plain terms, a plan cannot make addiction care costlier or harder to get approved than comparable medical care.
The same section controls how plans judge medical necessity, prior authorization and utilization review: they must use generally accepted standards of care and cannot apply criteria more restrictive than those standards. Lawmakers amended the section in 2025 and 2026, and a version taking effect July 1, 2027 ties definitions to ICD and DSM diagnoses and adds enforcement reporting by the Bureau of Insurance. A separate statute, § 38.2-3407.15:2, requires that at least one drug prescribed for substance use disorder need no prior authorization.
| How you pay | Your share | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Cardinal Care (Medicaid or FAMIS) | No copays | Residential, PHP and IOP need service authorization; outpatient and OTP care do not |
| Community services board | A fee set by your CSB’s board-approved ability-to-pay method | Serves people located in its area; the services offered differ from board to board |
| State-regulated health plan | Your deductible, copays and coinsurance | Parity with medical benefits; no medical-necessity criteria stricter than generally accepted standards |
| Paying yourself | $6,000–$28,000 a month residential; $3,000–$10,000 a month IOP | Ask what the quote covers, and whether detox and medication are billed apart |
Look up programs by carrier on our insurance pages.
Is rehab cheaper in Kentucky or Maryland than in Virginia?
Of the 5 states bordering Virginia on this map, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia have a lower typical residential price, Maryland a higher one. The gaps are widest with Maryland ($1,500 a month more) and Kentucky ($1,500 a month less).
Shading ranks the 6 states from lower to higher typical price (midpoint of each range, before insurance). Virginia has the orange outline; your selection is dashed. Source: RehabSeekers.com Rehab Cost Survey, 2027 prices.
| State | Detox per day | Residential per month | PHP per month | IOP per month | Outpatient per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $230–$730 | $6,000–$28,000 | $7,500–$14,000 | $3,000–$10,000 | $1,200–$5,000 |
| Maryland | $250–$800 | $7,000–$30,000 | $8,000–$15,000 | $3,000–$10,000 | $1,500–$5,500 |
| North Carolina | $220–$700 | $6,000–$27,000 | $7,000–$14,000 | $2,500–$9,000 | $1,200–$5,000 |
| West Virginia | $220–$700 | $6,000–$27,000 | $7,000–$13,500 | $2,500–$9,000 | $1,200–$5,000 |
| Tennessee | $220–$700 | $6,000–$27,000 | $7,000–$14,000 | $3,000–$10,000 | $1,200–$5,000 |
| Kentucky | $220–$700 | $6,000–$25,000 | $7,000–$13,000 | $2,500–$8,500 | $1,200–$4,500 |
| U.S. median (50 states) | $230–$715 | $6,000–$27,000 | $7,500–$14,000 | $3,000–$9,000 | $1,200–$5,000 |
Virginia against the rest of the country
- Residential rehab in Virginia lands in the broad middle of the country. At $17,000 a month, the typical price is 3% above the national median; 18 states are pricier and 29 are cheaper.
- IOP is where Virginia ranks highest. Only 6 states charge more than its typical $6,500 a month, 8% above the median.
- PHP and standard outpatient sit right at the U.S. median, so a Virginia quote for these levels of care is close to what most of the country charges.
- Neighbors split on residential care: Maryland is pricier, while Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia are cheaper. Kentucky has the lowest typical price on the map, $1,500 a month less than in Virginia.
| Level of care | Typical price | vs. U.S. median | Rank among 50 states | Cheapest neighbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical detox | $480 a day | 2% above the U.S. median | 20 states cost more, 25 cost less, 4 the same | Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia (tied), $460 a day ($20 less) |
| Residential | $17,000 a month | 3% above the U.S. median | 18 states cost more, 29 cost less, 2 the same | Kentucky, $15,500 a month ($1,500 less) |
| PHP | $10,750 a month | At the U.S. median | 17 states cost more, 23 cost less, 9 the same | Kentucky, $10,000 a month ($750 less) |
| IOP | $6,500 a month | 8% above the U.S. median | 6 states cost more, 26 cost less, 17 the same | Kentucky, $5,500 a month ($1,000 less) |
| Standard outpatient | $3,100 a month | At the U.S. median | 19 states cost more, 12 cost less, 18 the same | Kentucky, $2,850 a month ($250 less) |
Each state’s typical price is the midpoint of its quoted range in the RehabSeekers.com Rehab Cost Survey, 2027 prices. Ties count as the same rank. See rehab costs in all 50 states.
Prices across this part of the country sit close together, which is itself a useful result: when quotes are this similar, your coverage usually shapes the bill more than your location does. A CSB serves people located in its own service area, so check with your health plan or board before picking a program across the state line.
Where can you find rehab centers in Virginia?
The RehabSeekers.com directory includes 360+ addiction treatment centers in Virginia, both private programs and publicly funded ones. Of these, 88% accept Medicaid, 41% offer medication for addiction treatment and 18% provide residential care.
Listings are most concentrated in Richmond, VA (39), Arlington, VA (28), Winchester, VA (16) and Norfolk, VA (15). Browse every Virginia rehab center.
Source: RehabSeekers.com directory, as of October 2026, updated monthly. Shares total more than 100% because most centers offer more than one service.
How many Virginians need addiction treatment?
SAMHSA estimates that 1,144,000 Virginians age 12 and older, or 15.57%, had a past-year substance use disorder (2023–2024 average). In 2024, 82.82% of Virginians classified as needing substance use treatment, about 1,053,000 people, did not receive it.
Overdose deaths are falling. The Virginia Department of Health’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner counts 1,400 fatal drug overdoses in 2025, down 17.3% from 1,692 in 2024, in its Fatal Drug Overdose Quarterly Report (Edition 2026.1, July 2026). The 2025 figure is preliminary and may change.
How we collected Virginia rehab prices
Researchers commissioned by RehabSeekers.com telephoned treatment centers in every state, at least five per state and in more than one city, and asked for self-pay prices at each level of care. The Virginia ranges stretch from the lowest to the highest quote Virginia centers gave.
- What was asked: prices for admission in early 2027, collected directly from programs rather than gathered from other websites.
- When: calls started in October 2026; final checks ran through January 2027.
- How totals work: detox multiplies the daily rate; the other levels prorate the monthly rate by day.
- Coverage facts come from state and federal agencies, including DMAS, DBHDS, CMS, the Governor’s office, SAMHSA, NIDA and the Virginia Department of Health, plus the Code of Virginia, all listed under Sources.
Virginia rehab cost questions
How much does rehab cost in Virginia without insurance?
Paying out of pocket, expect roughly $40 to $930 per day in Virginia, based on 2027 quotes from Virginia centers. By the month, residential care runs $6,000–$28,000, PHP $7,500–$14,000, IOP $3,000–$10,000 and standard outpatient counseling $1,200–$5,000; detox is billed daily at $230–$730. Browse self-pay programs.
Read more: https://rehabseekers.com/payment/self-pay/
Does Cardinal Care cover drug and alcohol rehab?
Yes. Cardinal Care is the name for Virginia Medicaid and FAMIS, and its addiction benefit, Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services (ARTS), covers the full range of ASAM levels of care: early intervention, outpatient, IOP, PHP, residential and inpatient treatment, plus opioid treatment programs, office-based addiction treatment and peer recovery support. See rehabs that accept Medicaid.
Read more: https://rehabseekers.com/insurance/medicaid/
Do Virginia Medicaid members pay copays for addiction treatment?
No. DMAS and its managed care plans stopped charging copays to Medicaid and FAMIS members, and DMAS said copays would not resume after the federal public health emergency. For FAMIS, CMS approved a permanent removal of copays effective July 1, 2022. Learn more about paying for rehab.
Read more: https://rehabseekers.com/resources/how-to-pay-for-rehab/
How long will Virginia Medicaid pay for residential rehab?
There is no fixed number of days per person. Virginia’s federal waiver for care in larger residential facilities runs through December 31, 2031. Virginia aims for a statewide average residential stay of 30 days or less. That is a target, not a limit on any one person’s stay. Residential care needs service authorization. Compare residential programs.
Can a community services board help if I have no insurance?
Often, yes. Virginia’s 40 community services boards (CSBs) are the public entry point for behavioral health care, and all 40 offer same-day assessments. Each CSB keeps a fee schedule and uses a board-approved method to judge what you can pay. Services vary by CSB, so ask what your local board offers. Find state-funded programs.
Will the 2027 Medicaid work requirement affect people in rehab?
Starting January 1, 2027, adults covered through Medicaid expansion face a work or community-engagement requirement and renewals every six months. DMAS says people who have a substance use disorder, or are enrolled in a treatment program, are exempt from the work requirement. Keep answering renewal notices. See Medicaid rehab options.
Read more: https://rehabseekers.com/insurance/medicaid/
How much is a 30-day inpatient program in Virginia?
A month of residential treatment costs $6,000–$28,000 in Virginia before insurance, or $200–$930 per day. The middle of that range is $17,000. Detox, if you need it first, adds $230–$730 per day. Compare 30-day programs.
Read more: https://rehabseekers.com/programs/residential/short-term/30-day/
How much does detox cost in Virginia?
Virginia centers quoted $230–$730 per day for medical detox, so a 5-day stay comes to $1,150–$3,650 and a full week $1,610–$5,110. Under ARTS, withdrawal management is paid as part of another level of care rather than as its own service. See medical detox programs.
Read more: https://rehabseekers.com/programs/detox-centers/medical-detox/
Is rehab cheaper in Kentucky or Maryland than in Virginia?
Typical residential care costs $1,500 a month less in Kentucky and $1,500 a month more in Maryland than in Virginia. Before choosing an out-of-state program, confirm your coverage will follow you; a CSB serves people located in its own service area. See the Kentucky rehab cost guide.
Read more: https://rehabseekers.com/resources/rehab-cost-kentucky/
Does Virginia law make insurers cover addiction treatment?
Yes, for plans the state regulates. Virginia Code § 38.2-3412.1 requires substance use disorder benefits in parity with medical and surgical benefits, and bars medical-necessity criteria stricter than generally accepted standards. A separate rule requires at least one addiction medication with no prior authorization. See rehab by insurance provider.
Read more: https://rehabseekers.com/insurance/
How to cite this data
Journalists, researchers and AI tools are welcome to use these figures with credit and a link to this page.
RehabSeekers.com. “How Much Does Rehab Cost in Virginia?” RehabSeekers.com Rehab Cost Survey, 2027 prices. https://rehabseekers.com/resources/rehab-cost-virginia/
Sources
Primary data
- RehabSeekers.com Rehab Cost Survey (2027 prices): treatment center prices collected by a team of researchers commissioned by RehabSeekers.com, with at least five centers per state. All prices, ranges, totals and state comparisons on this page.
Coverage rules and public health data
- Virginia DMAS, Cardinal Care members
- Office of the Governor of Virginia, Medicaid expansion enrollment announcement (December 2018)
- Office of the Governor of Virginia, ARTS first-year results (April 2018)
- Virginia DMAS, ARTS Provider Manual Chapter IV (updated July 7, 2025)
- CMS, Virginia “Building and Transforming Coverage, Services, and Supports for a Healthier Virginia” section 1115 renewal approval (July 31, 2026)
- Virginia DMAS, Cardinal Care managed care plans press release (July 1, 2025)
- Virginia DMAS, Medicaid memo on copayments
- CMS, CHIP State Plan Amendment VA-22-0021 (removal of FAMIS copayments)
- Virginia DMAS, Medicaid 101
- Virginia DMAS, H.R. 1 legislator fact sheet
- Virginia DMAS, Community engagement (work requirement) FAQs (January 28, 2026)
- Virginia DBHDS, STEP-VA report RD195 (January 1, 2026)
- Code of Virginia § 37.2-500 (community services boards)
- Virginia DBHDS, Community services board performance contract, Addendum I (FY2026–2027)
- Virginia DBHDS, Community services board master performance contract (FY2026–2027)
- Code of Virginia § 38.2-3412.1 (mental health and substance use disorder coverage)
- Code of Virginia § 38.2-3407.15:2 (prior authorization)
- SAMHSA, 2023–2024 NSDUH State-Specific Tables: Virginia
- Virginia Department of Health, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Fatal Drug Overdose Quarterly Report, Edition 2026.1 (July 2026)
- NIDA, Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (3rd ed.)
This page is for information only and is not medical, legal or financial advice. Prices are estimates; your cost depends on your program, your coverage and your treatment plan.
