Tennessee Medicaid provides medical coverage to low-income families living in the state of Tennessee. The program is jointly funded by state of Tennessee and federal government. However, the administration mainly lies with the state since state decides program eligibility.

The TennCare program was established in 1994. TennCare program provides insurance for Medicaid population as well as the individuals that do not have insurance due to their financial situation. The program operates through Managed Care Organizations (MCO). Once an enrollee chooses an MCO, most of health and acute care services are provided by the selected MCO.

TennCare Medicaid provides services to children below 21 years of age, pregnant women, families with minor children and to families where both or one of the parents have lost their job or have mental illness lasting for at least 30 days.

TennCare Medicaid program also provides medical insurance to people receiving SSI, women requiring breast or cervical cancer treatment, and people in nursing home with monthly income below $2,022.

You can apply for TennCare Medicaid by downloading the application from our website or find your local DHS office to apply in person. If you are unsure whether you will qualify for the program, you can try this screening site.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to qualify for TennCare Medicaid, you'll have to qualify for Medicaid as basic eligibility. In addition, each different group under TennCare Medicaid has different eligibility criteria for qualification. It includes income eligibility as well. However, most groups will require applicants to be one of following to qualify for the program:

• Children below 21 years of age
• Pregnant Women
• Children aged 18 and below
• Single parents living with a minor child
• Caretakers living with the child and are closer relatives
• Two-parent families with minor child

Two-parent families will also have to meet additional eligibility requirements:

• Both or one of the parents have lost their job
• Both or one of the parents have their hours cut at job; or
• Both or one of the parents have a mental health problem, lasting at least 30 days before the time of filing application for TennCare Medicaid. Applicants will have to provide proof of such mental illness and its period.

Some other classes of people also qualify for TennCare Medicaid. These include:

• Women with breast or cervical cancer and requiring its treatment
• Those receiving Supplementary Security Income (SSI)
• Those living in nursing home and having monthly income below $2,022
• Those receiving other long-term services, where TennCare pays for such service

TennCare Application Instructions

If you want to make sure whether you qualify or not for the TennCare Medicaid, you can use Online Screening tool before you apply.

Apply Online

If you want to apply online, you can do so through the DHS online application website.

Apply in Person

You can apply in person by visiting your nearest county Department for Human Services (DHS). You can locate your local office Here.

Apply by Mail

You may also download the application, print it out and mail it to your DHS office. You will need Adobe Reader or another PDF reader to open and print the file.

You can call your local county Department for Human Services (DHS) to ask for application to be sent through mail. To find number of your local DHS office, you can go to This Link and locate office near you to get contact details.

NOTE: After completing the application, you can drop it by hand, fax it, or mail it to DHS office.