How Can Veterans Pay For Addiction Treatment? A Comprehensive Guide

Addiction disorders are an unfortunate reality for millions of veterans, with an estimated 1-in-10  veterans living with a substance use disorder. Fighting addiction disorders can be difficult without the right resources, including funding to pay for treatment. Fortunately, veterans and active-duty military members have access to addiction treatment within the VA and outside of the VA. If you’re looking for solutions to pay for addiction treatment for veterans, here are some options to consider.

VA Health Care Benefits

The VA healthcare system is by far one of the most common options for those who need help paying for addiction treatment for veterans. VA medical centers across the nation provide free services to veterans who are eligible for VA Healthcare services. This includes most veterans with an honorable discharge or a VA-rated disability.

VA addiction treatment services can include:

• Inpatient treatment
• Medical detoxification
• Outpatient treatment
• Mental health treatment (including individual therapy)
• Group therapy
• Specialized psychotherapy

While the VA system can be an excellent starting point for care, it might not provide specialized treatment options for some addiction-type disorders, such as gambling or eating disorders. In addition, some residential addiction treatment programs, such as the VA’s Domiciliary Residential Treatment Program, have long waitlists and require an interview process.

While wait times for VA mental health treatment have decreased by 7% in recent years, it’s still not a guarantee that veterans will be seen right away, or even accepted into an addiction treatment program. That’s because some marginalized veterans, such as the unhoused and those with severe mental illness, might require more priority interventions.

Addiction Treatment Payment Options Besides VA Healthcare

Paying for addiction treatment for veterans might be easier through the VA. However, for veterans in need of immediate care, there are other options available.

Tricare

Tricare is another excellent choice if you’re looking for help paying for addiction treatment for veterans. This is a healthcare program that provides coverage for active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, and their families.

If you’re a veteran no longer serving, don’t worry. Both regular retirees and those who have been medically retired early in their careers and enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System are also eligible for care.

Tricare is widely accepted at several different addiction treatment facilities. If the residential treatment program you’re exploring offers treatment for PTSD, and first responders, or uses a veteran-centric approach, they most likely accept Tricare to cover treatment.

Some of the various substance abuse treatments Tricare covers include:

• Emergency and non-emergency inpatient treatment
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
• Partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
• Medical detoxification and withdrawal management
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
• Mental health therapy
• MAT for opioid treatment
• Opioid treatment programs

Overall, Tricare is one of the best options since they have such low plans costing as little as $30 a month. Like all insurance health programs, they will cover the cost of addiction treatment if it is deemed medically necessary and proven. Some therapies, such as aversion therapy, and unproven treatments, will not be covered.

Check with your facility or ask your Tricare representative about coverage when you’re searching for addiction treatment. The more treatment covered by Tricare, including mental health and dual-diagnosis treatment, the better your chances of getting the help you need.

TriWest

TriWest is different than Tricare, although both are sometimes confused with one another. Triwest is a private company that contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs to facilitate health care services and benefits for military members and their families. They act as liaisons between healthcare providers in the community who are looking to serve veterans enrolled in the VA’s healthcare system.

It’s important to note that TriWest doesn’t provide health insurance plans. Instead, a VA medical facility will refer a veteran to TriWest for community care if they are unable to provide the necessary treatment in-house. This referral program is known as VACCN or VA Community Care Network.

In terms of addiction treatment, this means that TriWest will cover the cost of substance abuse treatment and behavioral health services at an approved facility within their network. These approved facilities must meet VA-required quality standards. Providers must also keep VA medical providers updated records of veterans and the care they are receiving outside of the VA.

To get started with paying for addiction treatment for veterans with TriWest:

1. Ask your provider or medical facility for a referral to the VACCN program. Your provider will go over addiction treatment options, and determine if a referral to an outside, high-quality community treatment facility is better than in-house VA treatment.
2. If you receive approval, you can then discuss different community treatment facilities with your provider. TriWest has a network of providers in regions 4 and 5 of the country, which includes most of the western United States.
3. After choosing your treatment facility, continue to follow up with your VA medical provider, who will monitor your progress and adjust treatment plans as needed.

What If You Don’t Qualify for VA Healthcare?

Not all veterans will qualify for VA healthcare services, Tricare, or TriWest services. This might be due to several issues, including pre-existing addiction issues that led to a dishonorable discharge, lack of documentation for service-connected disabilities, or other reasons.

There are still options for paying for addiction treatment for veterans, including:

• Government-subsidized medical programs like Medicare and Medicaid
• Private insurance plans through an employer or individual purchase
• Sliding scale payment options at community treatment facilities
• Scholarships and grants specifically for veterans seeking addiction treatment
• Seeking support from veteran support groups such as the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
• Reaching out to local non-profits that assist veterans in need of addiction treatment

It’s important to explore all possible avenues for paying for addiction treatment and not let barriers discourage you from seeking help. Remember, your health and well-being are a top priority, and resources are available to assist you in getting the care you need.