Does TRICARE cover rehab?
TRICARE is the health program for uniformed service members, retirees and their families. It covers substance use disorder treatment from TRICARE-authorized providers and facilities.
This is general information, not a guarantee of coverage. What your plan pays depends on your plan, your state, whether the program is in network, and whether your plan decides the care is medically necessary. Call the number on your card, then the program, before you start.
What it usually covers, by level of care
| Level of care | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Detox (medically managed withdrawal) | Covered when medically necessary, usually in a hospital. Emergency care needs no pre-authorization; a planned, non-emergency hospital stay does. |
| Residential rehab | Covered at a TRICARE-authorized substance use disorder facility, which must be licensed and accredited (for example by the Joint Commission or CARF). Residential care must be pre-authorized. |
| Partial hospitalization (PHP) | Covered at TRICARE-authorized programs when medically necessary. Whether you need a referral or pre-authorization depends on your plan; with TRICARE Prime you usually do. Ask your regional contractor. |
| Intensive outpatient (IOP) | Covered at TRICARE-authorized programs. Check with your regional contractor whether you need pre-authorization. |
| Outpatient therapy and medication | Counseling, medication for addiction and opioid treatment programs are covered. Most outpatient mental health visits need no referral, but outpatient substance use therapy may need a referral or authorization, depending on your plan. |
How to check
- Ask the program whether it is a TRICARE-authorized provider for your region, and whether your plan needs a referral or pre-authorization first.
- Active-duty service members need a referral and pre-authorization for civilian care. Start with your military hospital or clinic.
- Your regional contractor handles referrals and pre-authorizations; its phone number is on tricare.mil. For most plans your uniformed services ID card, not a TRICARE card, is your proof of coverage.
Call a program and ask
Call the program and ask them to verify your benefits; it's free and takes a few minutes.
- Do you accept TRICARE for substance use treatment, and for which levels of care?
- Are you in network for my exact plan, and is prior authorization needed?
- What would I pay a day or a week, and when is the next opening for an assessment?
Call the program yourself: Find Care doesn't take your insurance details, collect your name or pass anything to a program for you. This is general information, not a guarantee of coverage. What your plan pays depends on your plan, your state, whether the program is in network, and whether your plan decides the care is medically necessary. Call the number on your card, then the program, before you start.
Sources to check this against: TRICARE: substance use disorder treatment · TRICARE: partial hospitalization · TRICARE: mental health appointments, referrals and pre-authorization · TRICARE: medication assisted treatment · TRICARE Policy Manual: substance use disorder rehabilitation facilities · TRICARE: your enrollment card and your ID card. Written by Find Care as general information; not reviewed or endorsed by any of them.
Programs that list TRICARE
- Texas 191
- Arizona 150
- Tennessee 107
- Kentucky 104
- Colorado 84
- Louisiana 81
- Missouri 66
- Kansas 62
- Oklahoma 53
- Arkansas 50
- New Mexico 47
- Alabama 45
- Mississippi 36
Counted by organization, only where at least 3 list it. Not every program that takes TRICARE says so publicly.
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If you are in crisis, call or text 988. For help finding treatment, SAMHSA's National Helpline is 1-800-662-4357.