Skip to main content
250 State Street, Dickson, TN 37055
Follow us:

Freeman Recovery Center is proud to be an in-network TRICARE healthcare provider. TRICARE offers care to military veterans and boasts coverage of substance use disorder treatment and mental health treatment. This is critical because alcohol and drug addiction remains a concern among our nation’s military.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) maintains that just over 10% of veterans have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder, higher than the general population.

However, the number of veterans struggling with addiction is likely much higher. Much of this occurs due to ongoing negative stigmas and perceived “weakness” of a substance use disorder among many in the military. Read on to learn more about TRICARE-covered rehab near Nashville.

What is TRICARE?

Managed by the Pentagon’s Defense Health Agency, TRICARE is the healthcare program for the U.S. Armed Forces. While it boasts its own healthcare providers and facilities, delivered in military medical facilities like VA hospitals, it functions as government-managed, single-payer health insurance.

The exceptions are active-duty service members, who pay zero out-of-pocket healthcare costs, TRICARE enrollees, and beneficiaries who are served by several plan options. However, these options depend on their military status and state of residence.

TRICARE’s enrollment-based health plans include:

  • TRICARE Prime. Like a health maintenance organization (HMO) TRICARE Prime assigns members a primary care manager, who makes referrals to specialty caregivers when needed. TRICARE members’ out-of-pocket costs depend on their military service status.
  • TRICARE Select. TRICARE Select resembles more a preferred provider organization (PPO). Enrollees in TRICARE Select can choose their own primary care manager and refer to the specialist caregiver of their choice. However, some medical services come with out-of-pocket costs, though how much a TRICARE member is required to pay depends on military service status.
  • TRICARE Reserve Select. TRICARE Reserve Select is a plan for traditional National Guard members and those in the National Reserve. TRICARE Reserve Select operates just like TRICARE Select, except that enrollees pay a monthly premium.
  • TRICARE Young Adult. TRICARE Young Adult is an option for unmarried adult children. The plan provides both medical and pharmacy benefits.

Deductibles and Other Cost Concerns

Active-duty service members—who are required to enroll in TRICARE Prime—are the only beneficiaries who never have to pay deductibles or out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for services and prescriptions covered by their TRICARE plans. Other TRICARE Prime and Select plan users usually must pay deductibles and additional costs.

In fact, depending on someone’s beneficiary status and the specific Prime or Select plan they chose, they may have to pay one or more of the following:

  • Annual deductibles
  • Copayments
  • Cost-shares
  • Enrollment fees or premiums

For those in need of details regarding TRICARE-covered rehab in Nashville, TRICARE maintains a Compare Cost Tool.

group therapy session during veterans rehab in Nashville

Does TRICARE Cover Addiction Treatment?

All TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries have access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits. However, how one receives that care may depend on their plan’s particulars. For instance, some TRICARE enrollees may have to get a referral for certain office-based outpatient services. Meanwhile, active-duty service members should seek nonemergency mental health care at military facilities whenever possible.

Practically all TRICARE plans partially or fully cover medical treatments for substance abuse, including:

  • Alcohol
  • Cocaine
  • Prescription painkillers like Oxycontin and Percocet
  • Heroin and fentanyl
  • Benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax
  • Stimulants like Adderall and Methamphetamine
  • Marijuana  

Most TRICARE plans provide comprehensive treatment for substance use disorders, including detox, emergency, and inpatient hospital services. However, TRICARE reimburses only the cost of care if the enrollee goes to a TRICARE-authorized provider.

TRICARE covers many addiction treatment programs. These programs are recommended when a qualified mental health professional believes it is medically necessary for the patient to undergo an individually-tailored program of medical detox and therapy integrated with psychosocial and medical treatment and support.

The addiction treatment programs TRICARE covers include:

  • Medically-supervised detox
  • Residential addiction treatment
  • Inpatient services (emergency and non-emergency; this includes detox)
  • Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
  • Partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
  • Opioid treatment programs (OTP)

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a therapeutic approach to addiction treatment that combines prescription medication and mental health therapies. It treats a substance use disorder and removes some of the severity of drug or alcohol withdrawal symptoms. TRICARE-authorized healthcare providers may administer MAT services. However, they must have a special certification from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prescribe buprenorphine.

doctor prescribes medications for addiction covered by TRICARE in Nashville

Does TRICARE Cover Mental Health Treatment?

TRICARE covers mental health and substance use disorder treatment, including both inpatient and outpatient treatments. Also, TRICARE covers office-based psychotherapy when deemed medically or psychologically necessary for any combination of individual, family, or group sessions for a diagnosed and covered condition from an authorized provider.

However, the health plan does not cover certain mental health services, such as aversion therapy, marriage counseling, and experimental or unproven procedures.

The Veterans Compact Act of 2020

Veterans do not have to seek treatment at a VA facility. Instead, TRICARE allows them to seek treatment at private addiction treatment centers. TRICARE coverage covers the cost of detox, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), inpatient residential, PHP, and IOP treatment programs. 

Also, if the veteran is suicidal, their treatment is free, with zero out-of-pocket costs. This coverage took effect in January 2023 as part of the Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020. All veterans, whether enrolled in TRICARE or not, qualify for this benefit. All they have to do is enroll in a treatment program and let the facility know they are suicidal.

peer support during rehab in Nashville

Find TRICARE-Covered Rehab in Nashville, TN

For those seeking addiction treatment and wanting to see whether using TRICARE for rehab in Nashville, Tennessee will reduce or cover costs, Freeman Recovery Center can help. Located near Music City, our experienced counselors are happy to answer questions about our services and can advise you on the next steps needed to receive professional help for yourself or a loved one.

Contact us today and begin your journey toward lifelong sobriety and wellness.

It’s time to reclaim your life

Contact our team to find out how we can help you.

(615) 645-1141

| | Ready to get started?

Start your recovery journey today

What We Treat

Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Nashville TN can change a person's life for the better.

Dual Diagnosis

Our dual diagnosis treatment centers near Nashville, TN, can help provide relief for dual diagnosis symptoms. Additionally, we screen for dual diagnosis to ensure that no patient goes undiagnosed.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers in Nashville TN can provide relief to addiction symptoms.

Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction can put a person on the pathway to destruction. With our alcohol detox and various treatment modalities, Freeman Recovery can provide relief to those struggling with alcohol dependency.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers in Nashville TN can provide lasting relief to drug addiction symptoms.

Drug Addiction

Drug addiction can turn a person’s world upside down. Freeman Recovery is proud to provide a number of detox options for those struggling with dependency. Additionally, our inpatient and outpatient options provide further support to those who need it most.
| | Get In Touch

Connect With Us For An Assessment Today