Rehabs That Accept TRICARE Insurance

The women and men of our armed forces are at particularly high risk for substance use disorder (SUD). Between the trauma related to combat and other aspects of service, physical injury for which they self-medicate with opioids, the often prevalent drinking culture in the military, and other factors, our active and retired military often end up waging lifelong battles with addiction. Data from the United States Department of Defense (DoD) published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) indicates that, while substance abuse among active military personnel is low compared to the general population, it is increasing more and more each passing year, specifically the abuse of prescription drugs such as opioids and benzodiazepines. On top of that, returning military face multiple transitional factors that can be stressful and guide them toward substance abuse.

Insuring Alcohol and Drug Addiction Rehab through TRICARE Health Insurance

Current and retired members of our military who have been affected by SUD need streamlined, accessible, and affordable treatment resources so they can enter recovery and rebuild their lives. One entity that is stepping in to fill this need is TRICARE Insurance. TRICARE is a health care program of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System, providing civilian health benefits for U.S Armed Forces military personnel, military retirees, and their dependents, including some members of the Reserve Component. TRICARE is the civilian care component of the Military Health System, although historically it also included health care delivered in the military medical treatment facilities. TRICARE provides affordable coverage for a variety of health care issues, including substance abuse treatment.

What Kind of Addiction Rehab Services Does TRICARE Insurance Offer?

TRICARE Insurance covers a wide range of substance abuse treatment services. In response to the national epidemic of overdoses that took the lives of more than seventy thousand Americans last year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), insurance companies like TRICARE are doing more and more to make treatment more affordable and accessible to vulnerable plan members.

Some of the substance abuse treatment services they offer include:

• Medically managed detoxification. Once patients’ physicians deem detox a medical necessity, TRICARE members are eligible to have all or part of the process covered, depending on their scope of coverage. Inpatient medical detox programs offer safe, compassionate, and comfortable management of acute withdrawal symptoms. Programs typically last three to seven days or can be administered in an outpatient setting. Detox is covered by TRICARE if members seek assistance from a contracted in-network care provider.
• Inpatient behavioral rehab. Residential programs that last an average of twenty-eight to thirty days, inpatient rehab includes group therapy, individualized counseling, family counseling, and a variety of supplemental therapies. Some of the therapies that may be covered under TRICARE plans may include art therapy, music therapy, occupational therapies, and more. TRICARE also covers partial hospitalization programs (partial day programs). Other services include psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, testing and diagnosis, and the use of certain FDA-approved psychotropics commonly used to treat co-occurring disorders. Requirements for residential treatment coverage include a primary diagnosis of SUD.
• Outpatient behavioral rehab. TRICARE also covers regular outpatient and intensive outpatient (IOP) programs. These programs offer the same therapy resources as residential treatment (group therapy, one-on-one counseling, etc.) but are administered through multiple weekly treatment sessions to help patients maintain their careers and families during the treatment process. Regular outpatient programs usually last about four to six weeks, with three to five treatment sessions per week. IOP programs include more frequent and longer treatment sessions over a longer period of time.

TRICARE also provides affordable coverage for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD). These programs include the use of certain FDA-approved medications such as Suboxone® (buprenorphine and naloxone), Vivitrol® (monthly injectable naltrexone), and methadone therapy. Requirements for MAT include a diagnosis of OUD from a physician and adherence to guidelines from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and designated state and local governments. TRICARE may also cover transitional housing and sober living for qualified patients. To find you the scope of your or your loved one’s coverage, talk to a TRICARE insurance verification professional and see exactly what options are available to you.

How Do I Find Addiction Rehabs That Accept TRICARE Insurance?

Finding rehabs that accept TRICARE begins with identifying plan type and eligibility. TRICARE offers a comprehensive database of care providers and substance abuse rehab facilities from which you or your loved one may choose. If you or someone you care about is in the military and struggling with substance abuse, TRICARE may be able to make treatment more affordable. You don’t have to let money get in the way of your treatment and recovery. Start exploring rehab resources under TRICARE insurance to get help now.

Resources:

• drugabuse.gov – Medication Assisted Treatment 
• tricare.mil – Health Care
• tricare.mil- Abuse in the Military