Tennessee Health Insurance

It doesn’t matter if you reside in Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga or Knoxville, you’ll find there are plenty of options available to you when it comes to Tennessee health insurance. There are a multitude of insurance companies that offer a range of benefit and coverage levels to fit your health care needs.

You will find there is plenty of helpful information here regarding Tennessee insurance laws, rules, and regulations and information on public health insurance programs. View some of Tennessee’s most popular health insurance companies to see what plans they have to offer.

Search health insurance by state here if you don’t live in Tennessee.

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Resources on this page

Tennessee Health Insurance Laws and Regulations

Public Health Insurance Programs for Tennessee Residents

Tennessee Health Insurance High Risk Pools

Tennessee Health Insurance Companies

Contact Info for the Tennessee Department of Insurance and Department of Health Services

Tennessee Health Insurance Stats

Tennessee Residents: 6,293,800
Median Annual Household Income: $41,524
Tennessee Health Care Expenditures (in millions): $40,331
Households with at least 1 full time worker: 2,931,800
Tennessee Health Insurance Coverage based on Total Population (%):

• Employer: 47%
• Individual: 5%
• Medicaid: 18%
• Medicare: 14%
• Uninsured: 14%

Avg. Annual Employee Premium in Tennessee employer-sponsored plan (after employer contrib.): $1,031
Avg. Monthly Tennessee Individual Premiums: $204
Total Tennessee HMO Enrollment: 1,554,452

Tennessee Health Insurance Laws and Regulations

According to Tennessee health insurance law, insurance companies can look at a person's health history and pre-existing health conditions before they are accepted into coverage and premiums are set.

If an applicant has a pre-existing condition, an insurer could restrict coverage or deny the application. But if the applicant recently left a group health plan with an employer and also meet other requirements, they are protected under the federal law HIPAA.

This law prohibits Tennessee health insurance companies from restricting coverage if a person is HIPAA-eligible and guarantees they will be accepted for coverage.

Residents who are turned down for coverage because of their health status can purchase a plan from the Tennessee health insurance pool, AccessTN. While this high-risk health insurance pool guarantees access to coverage, the monthly premiums are typically high.

Health plans themselves are also regulated by Tennessee health insurance law. All plans must provide coverage for certain health care services, including:

• Care costs of clinical cancer trials
• Screening for breast, colorectal, prostate, and cervical cancer, along with chlamydia
• Medical care for pregnant women
• Equal coverage for mental health conditions and physical health conditions

Tennessee health insurance plans are also guaranteed renewable by state law. This means your health coverage cannot be canceled if you are injured or get sick.

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Tennessee Public Health Insurance Programs

Some low-income residents can get financial assistance for obtaining Tennessee health insurance coverage. Here are the state's public health care programs:

• Medicaid (TennCare)
  The Medicaid program in Tennessee is called TennCare. It provides health coverage for certain low-income residents and disabled citizens. Residents who have TennCare can also receive medical services from TENNderCARE, which is the state's program for early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Find out more about TennCare online.


• CoverKids
  This program is Tennessee's State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which provides health insurance for low-income children who do not qualify for TennCare and also live in families that cannot afford insurance on their own. Learn more about this Tennessee health insurance program for children on their website.


• CoverTN
  Small businesses can get financial assistance from the state to provide their employees with health insurance through this Tennessee health insurance program. Find out more online.


• CoverRx
  Tennessee residents who have no prescription drug coverage can get affordable medications through this discount program. Learn more about CoverRx here.


• Tennessee Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program
  Low-income women in Tennessee can get free mammograms and cervical cancer screening through this program. Women diagnosed with cancer can also receive full health insurance benefits through TennCare. Get more information about this women's Tennessee health insurance program on their website.


• Tennessee Medicare
  Seniors can find Tennessee health insurance through Medicare Advantage, Supplement and Original Medicare.

Also, the Federal Health Coverage Tax Credit is a program that can help some Tennessee trade workers and early retirees pay for their health plan premiums. Learn more about the Tax Credit online.

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Tennessee Health Insurance High Risk Pool

Residents in Tennessee with pre-existing conditions will get health insurance through the high risk pools set up by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) in Tennessee will work similar to regular Tennessee health insurance policies. The plan will require enrollees to pay affordable premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Enrollees in the Tennessee PCIP will pay around the same amount that people without medical conditions pay for health insurance. The estimated monthly costs for Tennessee residents will be $286 for ages 0 to 34; $343 for ages 35 to 44; $438 for ages 45 to 54; $609 for ages 55 and older. The plan has a $2,500 deductible which has to be met before health insurance benefits kick in and has a $5,950 out-of-pocket limit.

Those eligible for the Tennessee plan will have health insurance coverage for doctor and hospital visits, prescription drugs, emergency services and more.

Individuals may apply for the Tennessee PCIP if they are a United States citizen, have been without insurance for six months and have a medical condition.

For more information on the Tennessee health insurance high risk pools visit http://www.healthcare.gov/index.html.

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The following list of companies offer Tennessee health insurance plans:

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Tennessee Department of Insurance and Department of Health Services

Find the contact information for the Tennessee health insurance and health services departments at:

Go to Top of the Tennessee Health Insurance Page