Substance abuse and addiction affects every race, age and gender. For substance abusers that are 65 years or older, Medicare is an option to pay for some if not all of their drug rehabilitation. Medicare insurance may pay for the treatment of alcoholism and drug abuse in both outpatient and inpatient settings, as long as a few key points are addressed. The addict must receive treatment from a Medicare-participating facility or provider. The drug addicted person's doctor recommends that the drug or alcohol treatment is medically necessary and that the patient's doctor provides a specific recommended treatment plan. Also, Medicare will only cover a maximum of 190 days in a psychiatric hospital for the individual's entire lifetime.