TennCare Medicaid provides free or low-cost health care to low-income seniors. Eligible participants receive medical screenings, physician services, emergency services and transportation, medical equipment, labs and X-rays, home health care and physical and occupational therapy.
To be eligible for TennCare Medicaid, applicants must:
- Be an individual who is elderly, disabled or uninsurable
- Be a resident of Tennessee
- Be a U.S. citizen, or a satisfactory legal immigration status
- Receive SSI (supplemental security income)
- Have a monthly income of $750 or less and an asset limit of no more than $2000 (for individuals)
- Have a monthly income combined of less than $1125 and an asset limit of $3,000 or less (for couples)
- Have an income of less than $2,250 per month (for nursing home residents)
Apply for TennCare Medicaid online, call (800) 318-2596 or visit your local DHS office.
TennCare Medicaid offers assistance with long-term care services through its CHOICES waiver program. This program offers support and care to those in an assisted living residence, a nursing home, an adult foster home or the home of a caregiver or family member as well as those receiving in-home services. CHOICES helps cover services that enhance the quality of life, including meal preparation, grooming, medication management, home modifications (ramp, walk-in tub, etc.) and personal emergency response services.
Eligibility guidelines:
- An individual must be at risk of entering a nursing home facility (unless receiving home care)
- An individual’s gross monthly income may not exceed $2,313 and asset limit is $2,000 or less
- Receive SSI payments
If a senior is at risk for nursing home level of care, but doesn’t meet the requirements of nursing home care, the cost of home care can’t exceed $15,000 annually (this doesn’t include home modifications).
To apply for CHOICES with established TennCare, call the TennCare health plan phone number on the back of the member card. If a senior doesn’t have TennCare and is interested in CHOICES, call (800) 654-4839.