Expert Insights
Working as a therapist and social worker in upper Eastern Tennessee, I’ve cared for many clients who struggle with substance use.
I’ve worked with both teenagers and adults and have seen firsthand how addiction impacts them on a deeper level. In my corner of the Blue Grass State, the use of opioids and overdoses is on rise and is a serious issue.
According to a study conducted by Overmountain Recovery, 3,826 Tennesseans died from an overdose in 2022, with 3,073 deaths being from opioids.
Treatment options are available, but some programs only take insurance. This causes individuals without insurance to be at a disadvantage in getting their needs taken care of.
~ Geordyn Houston, LMSW
How Much Does Drug Rehab Cost in Tennessee?
Tennessee is ranked 16th nationwide in terms of addiction treatment affordability, with an average cost of drug and alcohol rehab of $56,600 (without insurance).
- Medical detox is the most expensive, with an average cost of $139,540
- Long-term inpatient drug rehab in Tennessee costs an average of $49,946
- Outpatient addiction treatment in Tennessee costs an average of $8,299
- Outpatient methadone treatment is the most affordable, with an average cost of $7,374
Costs for Tennessee treatment vary depending on multiple factors. Consider the following when putting together a budget for a potential treatment center in Tennessee:
Treatment Type: Do you need a long-term residential (inpatient) program or an outpatient program?
Program Duration: How long will you be in rehab? Treatment programs typically range from 30 to 90 days, but can last longer if needed.
Amenities: What amenities do you want or need? Standard rehabs offer evidence-based treatment, but luxury programs tend to have on-site pools, gyms, spas, and more.
Location: Which part of Tennessee do you want to attend? Costs vary significantly from metropolitan areas to more rural areas.
Private Health Insurance Coverage: Do you have health insurance? Providers cover some, if not all, costs associated with substance use treatment.
Funding: Are you eligible for state-funded programs, scholarships, or financing plans?
How to Pay For Addiction Treatment in Tennessee
According to a 2020 profile compiled by the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS), Tennessee rehab centers accept the following payment methods:7
291 accepted cash or self-payment
184 offered sliding-scale payments
216 accepted Medicaid
158 accepted state-financed health insurance that is not Medicaid
229 accepted private health insurance
143 offered treatment without charge or with the minimal client payment
12 offered treatment free for all clients
121 accepted federal military insurance
116 accepted Medicare
12 accepted IHS/Tribal/Urban (ITU) funds
Even if you lack insurance or the financial means to cover out-of-pocket costs, you still have options to access quality treatment. Free and low-cost rehab is available, if you qualify.
Major Private Insurance Carriers in Tennessee
- Aetna
- Allstate Health Solutions
- Ambetter of Tennessee
- Blue Cross /Blue Shield of Tennessee
- Bright Healthcare
- Carelon Healthcare Services
- Cigna Healthcare of Tennessee
- Farm Bureau Health Plan
- Humana Health Plan of Tennessee
- Oscar Insurance
- UnitedHealthcare
- US Health Group
- ValuePenguin
Medicaid
Medicaid insurance in Tennessee is called TennCare. It works through a waiver from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Under the waiver, Tennessee’s Medicaid insurance uses a managed care, “at risk” process. This means that CMS pays the managed care companies that supply the healthcare policies a fixed fee for plan services.
If the plan spends more money than the fixed rate, the overage is not covered by CMS. If they spend less, they keep the extra amount.
Substance abuse treatment provided through TennCare Medicaid managed care programs can include services like crisis care, detox and medication-assisted treatment, inpatient/residential addiction treatment, outpatient treatment (partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or regular outpatient), 12-step and faith-based programs and LGBTQ+ programs–the same types of services that are typical in traditional CMS Medicaid coverage.
But not all services will be available at every facility.You should always check with your insurance provider to find out which facilities and programs are available to you through your Medicaid insurance plan.
Medicare and Medicare Advantage
Medicare and Medicare Advantage insurance plans in Tennessee cover mental health, as well as substance abuse treatment for those who are diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder (SUD).
The substance abuse services available will vary by plan, but they often include detox, with medication-assisted treatment if needed, inpatient or residential care, outpatient treatment (partial hospitalization programs and intensive outpatient programs) and regular outpatient treatment.
Individual, group, and family counseling are also covered. Medication management, and diagnostic psychiatric evaluations or psychological assessments may also be included.3 But you should always check with your own insurance provider and ask about the details of your plan’s substance abuse coverage. Many policies place limits on the number of inpatient days they cover. Other fees may also apply, including deductibles and copays.
Military Insurance
Insurances typically available to active military personnel and military veterans include TriCare insurance and the insurance benefits that are provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs. TriCare insurance covers substance abuse treatment for individuals who are diagnosed with substance use disorder.
Covered services may include inpatient or residential care, opioid addiction treatment (including detox and medication-assisted treatment), outpatient treatment options (including intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs) and regular outpatient treatment.
Services vary according to the policy purchased, so the types of treatment services available will differ as well. Some services will not be available at every facility. And sometimes insurance policies place limitations on specific services, such as the number of inpatient treatment days they cover.4
The VA’s addiction and substance abuse treatment benefits for Tennessee military veterans are offered through the federal VA Substance Use Disorder program. This program provides inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment, as well as opioid treatment. But the services available vary according to the individual VA SUD facility locations.5 You can find a list of Tennessee VA clinics that have SUD programs at this website.
Tribal and Indigenous Peoples’ Programs
There are no federally recognized American Indian reservations in the state of Tennessee, even though there are still some members and descendants from major tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Shawnee, and others) still living in the state.
Because Tennessee has no officially recognized tribes or reservations, the Indian Health Service does not maintain clinic facilities in this state that would provide substance abuse treatment for Native American Indians. However, the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee, a nonprofit organization, does seek to fill some of the gap. They promote Native American culture and they also provide for some of the needs of Native Americans in Tennessee, no matter which tribe the individuals identify with.
NAIA provides employment assistance, education, and supportive social services, including assistance in finding and accessing healthcare resources to the American Indian populations in Tennessee.6 So, assistance in finding substance abuse treatment might be available by contacting this organization, which has headquarters in Nashville. You can reach them by calling 615-232-9179 or emailing [email protected].
Additional resources for finding mental health and substance abuse counseling for Tennessee Native Americans are the community mental health centers listed on the U.S. Department of Human Services Federally Qualified Health Center website.
FQHCs are mental health clinics specializing in providing services to underserved communities throughout the country, such as American Indian communities that do not have Indian Health Service facilities available to them. FQHCs accept Medicaid as insurance. 7 You’ll find a list of Tennessee FQHCs on their website. Use the search box to type in the name of the state (Tennessee).
Other Low-Cost Options
Financial Assistance
One way to help finance your substance abuse rehab treatment is to take out a loan from a bank, family member or friend. You might also consider soliciting funds through a social media platform like GoFundMe, an online platform that helps people raise money for a project, or for personal needs.
Or if you identify with a community that often faces discrimination (ex: a racial minority group; the LGBTQ+ community), you can possibly find support from an organization that serves these communities. Such advocacy organizations sometimes offer scholarships that can help pay for addiction treatment for individuals associated with their communities.
Sliding Scale Payments
Many rehab facilities will offer reduced fee payment options to make treatment affordable for potential clients who, without it, wouldn’t be candidates for treatment at that facility. If your income falls below the federal poverty level, you could receive the maximum fee reduction that is offered at a facility.
But because addiction rehab costs vary greatly (luxury rehabs are much costlier than state-funded facilities), even if you receive a discounted fee, it still wouldn’t guarantee that a particular rehab would be affordable for you.
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The Family Medical Leave Act, initiated in 1993, guarantees job security to employees when they take leave from work for mental health reasons, such as accessing treatment for addiction. Using FMLA, you can take an unpaid leave for up to 12 weeks within any 12-month period, and you won’t lose your job. While you are on leave, your employer must continue to maintain your health insurance benefits.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Block Grants
SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, issues block grants to every state. These grants are available for use by local government and non-governmental organizations to help them provide services such as mental health crisis services, residential or inpatient care, or outpatient addiction treatment.
In Tennessee, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services uses SAMHSA block grants to help fund substance abuse prevention services, substance abuse treatment, and addiction recovery support. Ask the rehabs that you are considering whether they have SAMHSA grants available to help pay for your treatment.
Resources
- Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (n.d.). Current Drug Trends.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Review of Substance Use and Mental Disorders in the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA.
- U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2021). Mental Health and Substance Use Insurance Help.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Grants.
- Shah, M., & Huecker, M. R. (2022). Opioid Withdrawal. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
- Office of Informatics and Analytics. (2022). Tennessee Drug Overdose Data Dashboard. Tennessee Department of Health.
- Adolescent Substance Use Disorders Services Program (ASUDSP). (2020). Provider Listing.
