According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), between 2017 and 2019, 193,000 Tennessee residents over aged 12 or older reported misusing prescription pain medication; 246,000 Tennesseans aged 12 or had alcohol use disorder.1
If you’re one of the many Tennessee residents looking to break free from substance use, you might wonder how to get the treatment you need. In particular, how do you pay for it? Fortunately, if you have Ambetter of Tennessee health insurance, your coverage can pay for some or all of the cost of rehab.
Ambetter of Tennessee is part of Centene Corporation and offer insurance plans through the health insurance marketplace in Tennessee.2
Do Rehabs in Tennessee Accept Ambetter?
How do you match your insurance to a high-quality treatment center? There are two things to keep in mind.
First, your Ambetter insurance plan will cover some or all of the cost of substance use treatment thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA requires long-term insurance plans to cover 10 essential health benefits, which include mental health and addiction treatment.3
The key is to find out which rehab centers are part of your insurance plan’s network of providers. Every plan has a specific list of providers that have agreed to care for plan members at a reduced cost.4 Using an in-network rehab center helps you pay less out-of-pocket costs. Many plans don’t provide any coverage if you choose an out-of-network provider.4
You can contact your insurance provider to get information about covered rehabs. You can also call specific treatment centers and ask if they accept your plan. The easiest option, however, is to reach out to American Addiction Centers (AAC). Our admissions navigators can help you understand your insurance coverage and verify your plan in just a few minutes.
What Addiction Treatment Does Ambetter of Tennessee Cover?
It’s important to work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan because Ambetter of Tennessee typically only covers medically necessary care.
Addiction treatment may include:5-7
- Detox. Medically managed detoxification is the process of allowing substances to clear out of your body safely and as comfortably as possible under the supervision of healthcare professionals.
- Inpatient or residential treatment. Inpatient care, which is sometimes referred to as residential treatment, gives you an opportunity to focus exclusively on your recovery by allowing you to live at the rehab facility during treatment. This way, you avoid the distractions of daily life as you work to build new mindsets and habits.
- Outpatient treatment. Outpatient programs vary in intensity and time commitment but allow you to live at home or in a sober living facility and return to the treatment center for counseling and therapy sessions.
- Behavioral therapies. Regardless of setting—inpatient or outpatient—addiction treatment utilizes various behavioral therapies to help you understand the source of specific thoughts and behaviors and understand the root of your addiction. During therapy, clinicians help you change your thinking and behaviors to prevent relapse.
- Medication for addiction treatment. Some medications used in the treatment of addiction can help manage cravings of certain substances—such as alcohol and opioids.
Is Mental Health and Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment Covered Under Ambetter of Tennessee?
If you have a diagnosed co-occurring substance use and mental health disorder, it’s essential that you receive integrated treatment to address both disorder simultaneously and maximize your chance of long-term recovery.8
Will your Ambetter of Tennessee insurance help pay for integrated treatment? Yes, it will because the ACA includes both mental health and substance use disorder treatment in the list of required coverages.3
However, every plan is different, and there may be requirements or limits to your coverage. That’s why it’s so important to contact your insurer or AAC to verify your insurance before you begin treatment.
What to Do if Your Policy Does Not Cover an Inpatient Drug Rehab Program
If your insurance plan doesn’t cover the treatment center you’re interested in, that doesn’t mean you can’t get the help you need. There are many other ways to pay for rehab.
For example, you can look for programs that have scholarships or payment plan options. You can also use savings, get a personal loan, or use a medical (or major) credit card to pay for treatment. Finally, your family and friends want to see you get better, so they may be able to help pay for rehab as well.
