Using TriWest for Veteran Drug & Alcohol Rehab in California
TriWest partners with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to help many military Veterans and their families access life-saving care, with about 70,000 health care professionals in the TriWest network.1
If you served and are struggling with drug or alcohol use, please know that your benefits may open the door to treatment, and that you do not have to face this alone. This guide explains how TriWest works and how to get addiction care at Laguna Treatment Center.
What Is TriWest Insurance?
The VA’s Community Care Network (CCN) is how the VA contracts directly with community treatment providers across the country, allowing Veterans with VA benefits to receive care outside the VA when needed.
The CCN works with third-party administrators on the VA’s behalf to handle services, payment, and network management.
TriWest Healthcare Alliance is the administrator for Regions 4 and 5, which cover the Western contiguous United States plus Alaska, Hawaii, and territories such as American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands2.
TriWest contracts with many providers in these areas, including facilities that treat addiction and other behavioral health conditions.
TriWest Eligibility Requirements
There are several eligibility requirements one must meet to access treatment through the Community Care Network (CCN) of providers. Meeting any one of the following 6 criteria makes the patient eligible for treatment through the VA CCN or TriWest:3
- A TriWest facility is the best medical decision for someone’s needs.
- Full-service VA facilities are not accessible in the patient’s locality.
- VA facilities in the area do not meet the designated access standards (i.e., excessive driving distance or wait times for appointments).
- The patient is “grandfathered in” under the distance eligibility provision. In other words, the patient was eligible under the Veterans Choice Program’s (VCP) 40-mile criterion and continues to reside in a location that would qualify them under this criterion (e.g., North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Alaska, or Wyoming, or the patient lives in another state and had been treated between June 6, 2017, and June 6, 2018).
- The necessary treatment is not available at a local VA facility.
- The medical service line does not meet the VA’s designated standards.
Does TriWest Cover Addiction Treatment?
Yes, many addiction treatment facilities like Laguna are part of the TriWest provider network. Many veterans and their families can get the help needed to get sober and maintain long-term recovery with addiction treatment through TriWest.4
What Addiction Treatments Are Covered by TriWest?
TriWest facilities provide many evidence-based addiction treatment methods that have helped many veterans achieve lasting recovery. These include:4,5
- Medical detox.
- Residential treatment.
- Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
- Various levels of outpatient counseling.
- Co-occurring disorder treatment for mental conditions like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
Laguna Treatment Center—a facility that provides detox and inpatient rehab in Orange County—is part of the TriWest network and offers several scientifically researched types of addiction treatment, behavioral therapies, and a robust aftercare program.
How to Use TriWest Coverage for Addiction Treatment
Laguna Treatment Center is part of the TriWest Healthcare Alliance network and enables potential patients to . Additionally, admissions navigators at can assist with getting insurance approval and answer questions about the care provided at Laguna.
To find a TriWest or Community Care Network (CCN) facility for addiction treatment, someone may also check the resources provided on the TriWest website.
Co-Occurring PTSD and Addiction
PTSD alongside addiction is common, especially among Veterans. Roughly 33% of Veterans who seek help for a substance use disorder also have PTSD.
Treating both at once often involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps identify and repair harmful thought and behavior patterns and build healthy coping strategies for cravings and PTSD triggers that do not involve drugs or alcohol.
Laguna’s Veterans and first responders program is designed with these needs in mind.
How to Use TriWest Coverage at Laguna
Laguna is part of the TriWest Healthcare Alliance network. To get started, you can begin admissions online or call our admissions navigators, who can help with insurance approval and answer questions about the care provided at Laguna.
You can also use the resources on the TriWest website to find a Community Care Network facility and explore other payment options if needed.
Why Veterans Using TriWest Choose Laguna
Laguna is California’s first and only addiction treatment facility licensed as a chemical dependency recovery hospital, equipped to manage severe withdrawal and certain co-occurring conditions.
It is PsychArmor Veteran Ready-certified, Joint Commission-accredited, and holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
The partnership between TriWest and the VA helps Veterans access quality, evidence-based care in areas where they might not otherwise have access to it.