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Keeping health care coverage is critical for people in recovery — and those seeking it
During Recovery Month in September, we often reflect on the people and systems that help keep us healthy. That could include family, neighbors, a therapist, support groups, or perhaps a community center. It also includes health care coverage.
Staying connected to health care is an important part of building a strong and sustainable recovery. For people living with substance use disorders—whether they are considering treatment, newly in recovery or have been in recovery for years—health coverage can help remove financial barriers to the care and support that they need to stay healthy and thrive.
Medical Assistance is Minnesota’s Medicaid program. New federal changes to Medicaid that Congress approved as part of HR1–also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”–could make it more difficult for some adult Minnesotans to maintain their Medical Assistance coverage. As these changes take effect in the coming months, it will be especially important for adults in, or seeking, recovery to understand what is changing so they can stay connected to their health coverage and take action when required.
For people with substance use disorder, maintaining health coverage can be a key part of recovery. Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare cover services such as substance use disorder treatment, recovery peer support, medications such as buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, and a range of outpatient services.
Coverage also supports recovery in ways that may be less obvious. It can help people access preventive care, mental health services, medications, physical therapy and treatment for chronic health conditions. Addressing these needs can improve a person’s overall health and reduce circumstances that may increase the risk of returning to substance use. For someone in recovery, having access to the right care at the right time can make all the difference.
Keeping health coverage isn’t just about having an insurance card. For people in recovery, it means maintaining access to health care, medication, treatment and support that helps make recovery possible.
For individuals who are seeking treatment, losing coverage can also create additional barriers at a point when timely access to care is especially important. While Minnesota has other resources available to help eligible people access substance use disorder treatment, including the Behavioral Health Fund, having Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare coverage can help people connect to a broader range of health care and supports.
HR1 changes to Medicaid include new eligibility requirements for adults without children. The specific impacts will vary depending on a person’s circumstances and coverage. That makes it important for people enrolled in Medical Assistance—as well as the family members, peers, providers and organizations supporting them—to learn what the changes mean and be prepared to take action.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services is committed to helping Minnesotans understand these changes and maintain coverage when they remain eligible. The recovery community also has an important role to play by sharing information, encouraging people to stay engaged with their coverage and helping friends, neighbors and family members connect with available resources. That’s why we’ve created a new webpage–mn.gov/dhs/federalchanges–to explain these changes and what they mean for Minnesotans. This webpage also includes a toolkit for partners so they can communicate these changes to the people they serve.
Do you want to learn more about what HR1 could mean for people in or seeking recovery? Join an upcoming SUD Community of Practice meeting or Thursday SUD Connections meeting in September. These meetings will provide an opportunity to learn more about the changes, ask questions and discuss what the recovery community can do to help people stay connected to health care and recovery supports.
- The SUD Community of Practice meeting is for anyone interested in SUD treatment and prevention. Staff will discuss HR1 at the Wednesday, Sept. 16 meeting from noon to 1:30 p.m. It is a hybrid meeting with options for virtual or in-person attendance. Email sud.cop@sdkstrategicservices.com to RSVP and receive information on how to attend.
- The SUD Connections meeting brings together providers and partners from the SUD community, as well as Managed Care Organization staff and representatives from other state agencies. Staff will discuss HR1 at the Thursday, Sept. 17 virtual meeting from 3 to 4 p.m. To secure an invite, email sud.direct.access.dhs@state.mn.us.
Keeping health coverage isn’t just about having an insurance card. For people in recovery, it means maintaining access to health care, medication, treatment and support that helps make recovery possible.
While the changes from HR1 will place additional burden on some adult Minnesotans, we know that people in recovery are used to overcoming challenges and doing whatever is necessary to take control of their lives and health. That’s part of the reason we celebrate Recovery Month each year–to recognize the incredible resilience and hard work of people in recovery. This year, let’s celebrate by educating ourselves and our communities about the importance of maintaining health care coverage.
Editor’s note (Updated 9/28/26): The federal law requires states to exempt people who are medically frail and people taking part in a substance use disorder treatment program. The medically frail category explicitly includes people who have a substance use disorder.
Teresa Steinmetz is deputy commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Human Services where she oversees the department’s Behavioral Health Administration and its Aging and Disability Services Administration.
