Financial Considerations
Anyone can access affordable care.
But how will I pay for it?
The cost of treatment is often so extreme that it keeps people from accessing the care they need. Understanding your financial options is the first step to finding the care that is right for you.
Uninsured?
For those who lack health insurance, it may seem like there is nowhere to turn for affordable treatment. However, there are many providers that offer quality care to anyone, no matter their financial background. Some programs receive government funding that covers all or most of the costs of treatment. Other programs provide payment assistance – for example, some work on a sliding scale, meaning that clients pay a fee depending on their income. Still others offer work programs, which allow patients to work at the facility or at a third-party organization while in treatment.
Medicaid (TennCare)
Medicaid, which is also called TennCare in the state of Tennessee, is public health insurance primarily for low-income children, pregnant women, adults, and people with disabilities. Medicaid covers substance abuse treatment, though some facilities do not accept Medicaid.
Medicare
Medicare, which covers individuals 65 or older and people with disabilities, can be confusing to navigate when it comes to substance abuse treatment. If you have Medicare Parts A and B, you have coverage for both inpatient (Part A) and outpatient psychiatric services (Part B). However, you may only go to providers that accept Medicare as payment. For more information, please visit Medicare’s website.
Self-pay
Most facilities allow clients to pay out-of-pocket for care. This means that none of the costs of treatment will be covered by insurance, so bills can be extremely expensive. Having an option to pay out-of-pocket is NOT the same thing as offering programs for the uninsured or providing payment assistance.
Private Insurance
Many private insurance companies help cover the costs of substance abuse treatment. Note that though a treatment facility takes private insurance, it may not take all types of private insurance. Contact your insurer to find out more about your available benefits and to find approved treatment centers.