Expert Insights
Tennessee isn’t called the Volunteer State for no reason. We believe in giving back, and I read a news article about a young man named Justin Biggs who embodied that spirit. Justin was someone who had struggled with opioid and meth addiction for the better part of a decade; he had also been homeless for nine years. But once he was able to enter a treatment program, he chased recovery with the same intensity he used to chase his drugs of choice. Last year, while living in a halfway house and working a full-time job, Justin realized it was time to pay it forward. He began collecting clothes for the homeless in August: gloves, coats, hoodies, sweatshirts and pants, thermals, and any other items of clothing people were willing to donate. In October, when the East Tennessee weather began to turn cold, Justin went back to his old stomping grounds – the same streets he lived on during his own active addiction. In places that once held only bad memories, Justin was able to make a positive impact on the homeless population by handing out all the donated clothing items, which would help to keep people warm during the coming winter months. He called his clothing drive “Hoodies for the Homeless,” and he plans to do it again in 2023.
~ Rita Milios
How Much Does Drug Rehab in Nashville Cost?
The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services makes it possible for anyone living in Nashville to get help with a substance use disorder.
Low-Cost and Free Drug Rehab Centers in Nashville
Nashville treatment centers want everyone to get help. As such, several programs have been created to help with costs, such as the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SAPT), in which local facilities contract with the state to accept funding that covers people who need care but cannot afford to pay for it.
Eligibility criteria include:
- You have no way to pay for services.
- You are not enrolled in TennCare.
- You do not have third-party healthcare coverage.
- You have maxed out all of your TennCare or third-party benefits.
- You meet the 133% federal poverty guidelines.
Other funding resources that cover your cost include the following:
- Crisis Detoxification
- Adolescent Substance Use Disorders Services Program
- Treatment for Pregnant Women Abusing Substances
- Women’s Recovery and Treatment
- DUI Offenders Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment (ADAT)
- Supervised Probation Offender Treatment (SPOT)
- Faith-based programs
Does Insurance Cover Rehab Center Costs?
Private Insurance
Tennessee residents are protected under the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. This law requires all insurance companies to cover at least some of the cost of substance abuse treatment. Every insurance plan is different and offers specific coverage, and copays and deductibles may apply.
Medicaid
TennCare is Tennessee’s Medicaid program. It covers residents in Tennessee who are parents or caretakers of a minor, pregnant, elderly, or have a disability. To see if you qualify for Medicaid, you must meet income and resource limits.<sup>4</sup>
Medicare
Medicare covers Tennessee residents 65 and older and those with certain disabilities. This government program includes coverage for addiction treatment under various plans. However, not all rehabilitation facilities accept Medicare as a method of payment.
TRICARE
TRICARE in Tennessee provides health insurance coverage for addiction treatment, military personnel, veterans, and their families.
If you have insurance, it could cover part of the costs. Check with your insurance company by calling the number on your card. You may also contact the clinic in Nashville directly to see if you meet the qualifications for funding.
To find free Nashville drug rehabs, get help today at
800-681-1058
(Sponsored)
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Resources
- Metro Public Health Department of Nashville/ Davidson County. (2021). Quarterly Drug Overdose Surveillance Update.
- Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. (2021). Adult Substance Abuse Treatment.
- U.S. Department of health and human services. (2022). Mental Health and Substance Use Co-Occurring Disorders.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). The National Survey on Drug Use and Health Detailed Tables.
- Anxiety & Depression Association of America. (2021). Substance Use.