If someone is in danger or you are worried about their safety right now, call 000. For crisis support any time, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For alcohol and drug support in Queensland, call Adis on 1800 177 833, 24/7.
Many private treatment providers in Australia don't publish their prices. That makes it hard to plan, and it means the first phone call often turns into a sales conversation before you know whether you can afford it. We think you should know the numbers first, so here they are, along with every way to pay.
What Sapphire costs
Sapphire Recovery is a private residential home in Reedy Creek on the Gold Coast, for up to six guests at a time. Our prices are indicative, and your written quote after assessment is the one that counts.
- Live-in program: from $25,000 + GST. Seven days a week, in a private room, with the length of your stay set with you.
- Outpatient program: from $15,000 + GST. Three full days a week for four weeks, while you live at home.
- Transition house: $15,000 incl. GST. A set stay in a separate supported house after a residential program.
- Outpatient support: by plan. Ongoing therapy, groups and coaching check-ins, as long as you need them.
You can compare all four side by side on our programs and pricing page.
What is included, and what isn't
A live-in stay includes your accommodation, all meals cooked by our private chef, individual and group therapy, holistic therapies such as yoga, equine sessions and massage, 24/7 on-site support and a written aftercare plan. Private pick-up from Gold Coast Airport can be arranged.
Some things sit outside the program price:
- Medical detox. If you need withdrawal management, it happens first, somewhere safe and supervised. Sapphire does not provide detox on site.
- Prescription medicines and external specialist appointments, such as a psychiatrist review.
- Personal expenses.
We don't offer refunds if you change your mind or leave early. This doesn't affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law, and your written quote sets out the fees and terms before you commit.
What changes the total
Two people can come to the same program and pay different amounts. The things that usually make the difference are:
- Length of stay. A live-in stay is reviewed with you as you go, rather than fixed at the door.
- Whether detox comes first, and where it happens.
- What comes after. Stepping down to the transition house or outpatient support adds to the cost, and for many people it is where the work of a stay holds.
- Medication and specialists you need during the stay.
Ways people pay
Most people fund a stay with a mix of savings, a payment plan and their super. The main options are:
- Payment plans. Sapphire partners with TLC for medical and wellness finance, usually with a deposit up front and the rest spread over time. TLC sets its own rates, fees and approval criteria.
- Early release of super on compassionate grounds. The ATO can approve release to pay for treatment of an acute or chronic mental disorder, with reports from two registered doctors, one of them a specialist. Our guide to using your super explains the steps and the tax side.
- Finance through a third-party lender, subject to their approval.
- Your employer. Some employers fund treatment or extra leave, often through an Employee Assistance Program.
- DVA, WorkCover or CTP, case by case. Insurer approval is needed before admission.
Private health insurance usually does not cover a stay at Sapphire. Hospital cover generally pays for licensed private hospitals, and Sapphire is a residential home, not a hospital. Some extras policies help with psychology sessions, so it is worth asking your fund. Every option is laid out on our paying for treatment page, with a repayment calculator.
Free and low-cost options
Queensland has free and low-cost public and community alcohol and drug treatment, often with waiting lists. If private care isn't affordable right now, that is not a reason to go without help. Adis 24/7 Alcohol and Drug Support, Queensland's free and confidential line, can tell you what is available near you on 1800 177 833. A GP can also refer you. If Sapphire isn't the right fit for your budget, we will tell you so and point you somewhere that is.
Questions to ask any provider about cost
- What is the full price, in writing, and does it include GST?
- What exactly is included, and what is extra?
- Is detox included, or arranged somewhere else first?
- What happens to the fees if I leave early?
- What does aftercare cost, and is it part of the plan from the start?
General information only. This post is not financial advice. Prices are indicative and your written quote applies. Funding rules change, and every insurer and scheme decides case by case, so check with them before relying on any option.
Questions about cost? Ask us plainly.
We'll give you a clear written quote and talk through payment plans, super and finance, with no obligation.
