Guide
Detox and Rehab in San Antonio That Accept Medicaid or Medicare: Where to Go and What Is Covered
Joint Commission accredited · In network with most major insurance · Admissions answered 24 hours a day
Published October 15, 2026
Finding detox that accepts Medicaid or Medicare is harder than it should be, because many private treatment centers take neither. In San Antonio, the main program that accepts both is The Center for Health Care Services, Bexar County’s public mental health and substance use agency. This page explains where to go with each kind of coverage, what Medicare pays for, and how to check a center before you rely on it. It also says plainly that Briarwood does not accept Medicaid or Medicare, so you do not lose time calling the wrong place.
Which detox centers in San Antonio accept Medicaid or Medicare?
The Center for Health Care Services is the main one. It runs residential detox at The Restoration Center and says it does not turn anyone away because they are covered by Medicaid, Medicare or CHIP.
The center’s detox line is 210-246-1360. It also says no one is denied services because they cannot pay, and charges on a sliding fee schedule based on household size and income. That covers people with no insurance at all.
The same agency runs the state’s referral program for Bexar County and 27 surrounding counties, called OSAR, at 210-261-3076. OSAR screens you and refers you to programs that fit, including ones funded by the state. If the detox program has no bed, OSAR can tell you where else to try.
Source: The Center for Health Care Services, home page and Program Directory; Outreach, Screening, Assessment and Referral, Texas Health and Human Services.
Does Briarwood accept Medicaid or Medicare?
No. Briarwood does not accept Medicaid or Medicare, at any of its locations. An older version of this page said otherwise, and it was wrong.
Briarwood is in network with most major commercial insurance plans, including plans bought through an employer or the marketplace. It also accepts TRICARE and VA benefits. If you have one of those, a free benefit check takes about two minutes.
If Medicaid or Medicare is your only coverage, The Center for Health Care Services is the better first call.
Where we are
Detox centers across Texas
Three locations, each with its own admissions line and its own clinical team. Pick the one nearest you — or call and we will tell you which has a bed tonight.
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Inpatient Austin, TX
11711 N Lamar Blvd · 78753
- 15 beds
- On-site labs
- 24-hour medical staff
Drug & Alcohol Detox in Austin, TX
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Inpatient Houston, TX
1019 Ashland St · 77008
- On-site labs
- 24-hour medical staff
Drug Detox Center in Houston, TX
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Outpatient San Antonio, TX
6707 W Hausman Rd · 78249
- Outpatient detox with scheduled medical visits
- Outpatient treatment
Outpatient Drug & Alcohol Detox in San Antonio
What does Medicare cover for addiction treatment?
Medicare covers a wide range of substance use treatment: hospital stays, outpatient care, intensive outpatient programs, and medication for opioid addiction. The catch is that the provider must accept Medicare.
According to Medicare’s own coverage pages:
- Part A covers care when you are admitted to a general or psychiatric hospital.
- Part B covers outpatient services, and intensive outpatient programs at a hospital, community mental health center, federally qualified health center, rural health clinic or opioid treatment program.
- Opioid treatment includes methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone, plus counseling and check-ins, through a doctor or an opioid treatment program.
- Overdose reversal medicines, naloxone and nalmefene, are covered too.
Costs depend on your plan, deductible and the provider. In San Antonio, The Center for Health Care Services runs an opioid treatment program at The Restoration Center, 210-261-3001.
Source: Mental health and substance use disorders and Opioid use disorder treatment services, Medicare.gov.
Why do so many private centers turn Medicaid away?
Each treatment center chooses which insurance it accepts, and many private detox centers do not contract with Medicaid or Medicare. Having coverage does not mean every center will take it.
That is why “Not appropriate for level of care” or “We don’t take your insurance” is such a common answer on the first call. It does not mean you cannot get treatment. It means you need a provider that accepts your coverage.
Federal law does help with private insurance. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires health plans to cover substance use treatment at the same level as medical and surgical care. That does not force a private center to take Medicaid, though.
Source: Paying for treatment, FindTreatment.gov, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
How do you check whether a center takes your coverage?
Ask the center directly, before you travel, and ask your plan to confirm it. A center’s website or a directory listing can be out of date.
Questions worth asking on the call:
- Do you accept my plan by name, not just “Medicaid” or “Medicare”?
- Are you in network for detox specifically, or only for other services?
- Is there a waiting list, and what happens while I wait?
- What will I owe, if anything?
For a list of programs near you, FindTreatment.gov is the federal locator, run by SAMHSA. Its National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, is free, confidential and answered 24/7. It can refer you to programs that accept Medicaid or Medicare, or that charge on a sliding scale.
Source: FindTreatment.gov; SAMHSA’s National Helpline.
What if you live elsewhere in Texas?
Every Texas region has its own OSAR program, and the only requirement is living in Texas. Texas Health and Human Services lists each region’s provider and phone number.
In the Austin area, the OSAR is Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, at 844-309-6385. Travis County’s public mental health and substance use agency, Integral Care, has a 24/7 helpline at 512-472-4357. For other regions, the state’s OSAR page lists the number to call.
The free addiction help in San Antonio page covers free options in more detail, including how to help someone who is homeless. The detox in Austin without insurance page covers the Austin side.
Common Questions
Does Briarwood accept Medicaid?+–
No. Briarwood does not accept Medicaid or Medicare. In San Antonio, The Center for Health Care Services accepts both and is the better first call.
Is there detox in San Antonio that takes Medicaid?+–
Yes. The Center for Health Care Services runs residential detox at The Restoration Center, 210-246-1360, and does not turn people away for being on Medicaid, Medicare or CHIP.
Does Medicare pay for detox or rehab?+–
Medicare covers inpatient hospital care, outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment, and medication for opioid addiction, as long as the provider accepts Medicare.
Why did a rehab tell me they don't take Medicaid?+–
Each center chooses which insurance it accepts, and many private centers do not take Medicaid. Call OSAR at 210-261-3076 for a program that does.
What does OSAR stand for?+–
Outreach, Screening, Assessment and Referral. It is Texas's state-funded starting point for substance use treatment, open to anyone living in Texas.
What if I have no insurance at all?+–
The Center for Health Care Services charges on a sliding scale by income and says no one is denied care for inability to pay. Start with OSAR at 210-261-3076.
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About the people behind this guide
Anna-Grace Washington
Medical Content Writer
Anna-Grace Washington is a Medical Content Writer for Briarwood Detox Center. She holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Texas and brings a strong understanding of behavioral health, addiction recovery, and evidence-based treatment concepts to her writing.
In network with most major insurance
Find your plan and see what detox would cost
Most plans cover medical detox. Coverage varies by plan, so we verify it for you before you commit to anything.
Don't see your plan? We work with out-of-network benefits and offer self-pay options — (210) 305-4522
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