Rehab cost calculator

How the calculator estimates cost

The pricing tables behind the calculator come from a 2025–26 survey of Australian residential rehab providers, supplemented by published rates where available, and cross-checked against state public-system reporting. The tables are realistic mid-points; the upper end of each range reflects premium accommodation and higher staff-to-client ratios, the lower end reflects subsidised places, sliding-scale arrangements, and basic single-or-shared-room programs.

Treatment length matters more than sector for long-term outcomes — a 90-day NGO program typically produces better one-year results than a 28-day premium private program, despite costing a fraction. The calculator includes 60- and 90-day options because the cost picture changes meaningfully at those longer durations.

Hidden costs the calculator does not include

• Time off work: 28 days at the median Australian wage is roughly $5,000–$8,000 in lost income. Annual leave or long-service leave usually covers it; some employer EAPs include addiction treatment leave provisions.
• Travel for visits: If the program is not local — particularly for premium providers in Byron Bay, Gold Coast hinterland, or rural Victoria — family visits add up. Most programs include weekend visits in the second and third weeks.
• Practical re-entry costs: New accommodation if home is unsafe, replacing routines, sometimes paying down debts run up during use. These are real costs, just not on the program invoice.
• Outpatient psychology beyond MHCP: Medicare's Mental Health Care Plan covers 10 subsidised sessions per calendar year (rising to 20 in some periods). Beyond that, private psychology runs $180–$280 per session with ~$90 rebate. People in early recovery often want more than 10 sessions in the first year.

How private health insurance interacts with rehab cost

Hospital cover at silver-tier or gold-tier with psychiatric inclusion is the layer that meaningfully offsets private rehab. The actual benefit varies by fund (Bupa, Medibank, HCF, NIB, Australian Unity, HBF, GMHBA, ahm, Defence Health, Police Health, Teachers Health, etc.) and by the specific policy within the fund. The headline range across the major funds is roughly $400–$700 per day of inpatient cover, plus or minus an excess (typically $250–$500). The calculator uses 30% offset for silver-tier and 55% for gold-tier as realistic averages. The exact offset on your policy is best confirmed with a 5-minute call to the fund.

Two things to know about waiting periods: (1) Most policies have a 2-month waiting period for new psychiatric care; if you have just upgraded to gold-tier specifically to access rehab, you may need to wait. (2) The "psychiatric reform" upgrade rule lets you upgrade to higher psychiatric cover and access benefits without re-serving full waiting periods — once per lifetime. Worth knowing.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is this calculator?

Estimates are based on a 2025–26 industry survey of Australian residential rehab providers and current state public-system pricing. Specific programs vary substantially within each band — premium private programs in Byron Bay or the Gold Coast hinterland sit at the top of the range; established NGO providers like Salvation Army Bridge or Odyssey House sit lower. The calculator gives you a realistic mid-point, not a quote.

Why is public rehab free?

Public detox and rehab in Australia is funded through state and territory health systems and is free at the point of access for Medicare-eligible Australians. Wait time is the trade-off, not cost — non-urgent admissions can run from one to several weeks depending on state and clinical priority.

Does private health insurance cover rehab?

Hospital cover with psychiatric inclusion (typically silver-tier or gold-tier on most funds) covers a portion of private inpatient rehab, usually $400–$700 per day, leaving an out-of-pocket cost. Basic hospital cover usually does not cover rehab beyond a 12-month "psychiatric upgrade" rule. Waiting periods of 2 months apply to existing conditions on most policies; longer if upgraded recently.

Why include aftercare in the cost?

Outcome research consistently finds that the 12 months after primary treatment are the strongest predictor of long-term recovery. Most people underestimate this cost — weekly counselling at $80–$200 per session, plus occasional GP and addiction-medicine reviews, plus any ongoing relapse-prevention medication, adds up to a meaningful figure across a year. Including it in the estimate avoids the surprise three months in.