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We have a directory of resources with information about eligibility for various public programs, food assistance, and more.

PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAMS THAT TJC FOCUSES ON 

HEALTHCARE

TENNCARE 

TennCare is Tennessee’s Medicaid program. It provides health insurance coverage to certain groups of people like pregnant women, children, caretaker relatives of children under 19 years of age, and some adults 65 years of age and older, and some adults with disabilities.

 

Need help applying? Call TJC at (615)255-0331. 

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Fill out our case inquiry form if you need help applying and we will see if we can help you. 

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COVERKIDS 

CoverKids is Tennessee's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It offers health coverage to pregnant women and children who are uninsured and don't qualify for TennCare. Preventative health care is free. Sick visits and medication have very low copays. 

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MORE ABOUT COVERKIDS 

  • Children under the age of 19 can get dental and vision care.

  • Pregnant women can get prenatal care, labor and delivery, and 60 days postpartum care – meaning 60 days after delivery.

  • For immigrant pregnant women – proof of immigration status is NOT required.

  • You can apply with TennCare Connect by phone, mail/fax, or online. Click here for more information on how to apply. Save proof that you applied.

  • Fill out our case inquiry form if you need help applying and we will see if we can help you.

MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAMS 

 

Medicare Savings Programs - help people on Medicare pay their premiums and for some people, it also pays Part A and Part B deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.

 

You can apply with TennCare Connect by phone, mail/fax, or online. Click here for more information on how to apply. Save proof that you applied.

CHOICES 

CHOICES - is Tennessee’s long-term services and supports for some adults with physical disabilities aged 21 years and older and some adults age 65 and older without a physical disability. You will have health coverage through TennCare when enrolled in CHOICES and extra help with daily activities (ADLs).

 

ADLs include:

 - Mobility – moving from place to place.

 - Transferring – getting out of bed or a chair.

 - Toileting – getting help with using the bathroom.

 - Bathing

 - Eating

 

There are 3 Groups each offering different types of services:

  • Group 1: pays for nursing home care.

  • Group 2: is care in your home or community that doesn’t cost more than a nursing home.

  • Group 3: is for people who are at risk of needing nursing home care and the care in your home or community doesn’t cost more than $15,000.

 

How to apply for CHOICES:

  • Already on TennCare? Call your Managed Care Organization (MCO). The phone number should be on your card.

  • Call the Area Agency on Aging and Disability at 1-888-836-6678 if you are not on TennCare.

  • Contact us if you have applied for CHOICES and:

  • Your application was denied.

  • You were told that you need a Qualified Income Trust (QIT).

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EMPLOYMENT AND COMMUNITY FIRST CHOICES (ECF CHOICES)

 

Employment and Community First CHOICES (ECF CHOICES) is Tennessee’s program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. People on ECF CHOICES, get health insurance through TennCare. They also get additional services. These services include help getting a job or living as independently as possible in the community.

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HOW TO APPLY FOR ECF CHOICES

  • If you are on TennCare, call your Managed Care Organization (MCO). The phone number is on your TennCare card.

  • If you are NOT on TennCare, you must complete the TennCare self-referral form. You can get it here.

 

NEED HELP APPLYING?

  • Contact TJC by calling toll free at 1-877-608-1009; OR

  • Call your regional Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) office:

  • West Tennessee Regional Office of Intake (866) 372-5709

  • Middle Tennessee Regional Office of Intake (800) 654-4839

  • East Tennessee Regional Office of Intake (888) 531-9876

NUTRITION

SNAP

SNAP – This is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget for families so they can purchase healthy food and move away from food insecurity.

 

You can apply in person, by mail/fax, or online with the Department of Human Services (DHS). Click the button below for more information on how to apply for SNAP. Save proof that you applied.

WIC

This is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). It provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk.

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To apply you need to set up an appointment with a WIC clinic.

P-EBT

P-EBT – ​This is the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. P-EBT is a COVID-19 relief program that provides nutritional assistance to National School Lunch Program students and qualifying families to replace school meals missed due to COVID-19 related events.

 

To receive this benefit, you must be enrolled in SNAP or in your school’s National School Lunch Program and missed school due to COVID.

Have you been denied or terminated public benefits like TennCare, CoverKids or SNAP for any of the following reasons?

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  • Your income is too high.

  • You have too many resources like cars, land or money in the bank.

  • You didn’t fill out questions and return it by the deadline.

  • You didn’t respond to a request for more information.

 

The state agency should tell you their reason why. If you disagree with the state’s reason you can file an appeal.

SELF-HELP AND INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS

 

For TennCare/CoverKids issues, call TennCare Connect at 1-855-259-0701. The call is free. Also, make sure that TennCare has your current mailing address, so that you will get mail from them.

 

We recommend setting up an online TennCare Connect account too: Have you been denied or terminated public benefits like TennCare, CoverKids or SNAP for any of the following reasons?

 

For Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) issues, Visit your local Department of Human Services (DHS) or call the Family Assistance Service Center at 1 (866) 311-4287.

DO YOU NEED OUR HELP?

  • If you have been denied or terminated from the programs that we focus on, and don’t understand why or think that was a mistake we might be able to help.

Here are some issue we may be able to help with:

  • Your doctor prescribed a treatment or medicine for you, but TennCare (or MCO) won’t pay for it.

  • You received a letter indicating your nursing hours will be cut.

  • You got a letter from TennCare, but don’t understand what it means.

  • You filed an appeal and don’t know what to do next.

  • TennCare has told you that your case is going to a hearing.

  • Other problems applying for TennCare or getting enrolled.

  • TennCare said you need a QIT.

  • Screening to see if you qualify for other insurance affordability programs like premium tax credits and cost sharing reductions available through the federal marketplace: If you have been denied or terminated from the programs that we focus on, and don’t understand why or think that was a mistake we might be able to help

  • You got a letter from the Department of Human Services (DHS), but don’t understand what it means.

  • Your benefits were lower but you don’t know why

  • You filed an appeal and don’t know what to do next.

  • DHS has told you that your case is going to a hearing.

  • Other problems applying for SNAP or getting enrolled.

  • Screening to see if you qualify for SNAP.

  • Fill out our case inquiry form and we will see if we can help.

Here are some issues that we can’t help with right now:

  • We checked and you don’t qualify for TennCare or CoverKids or an affordable Marketplace plan under the current rules but still need healthcare.

  • It’s hard to know if you don’t qualify for TennCare or CoverKids or an affordable Marketplace plan. You can call us to make sure the state is accurate. Fill out our case inquiry form and we will see if you don’t qualify under the current rules.

  • We are pushing for change to expand TennCare coverage in our state. For now. Check out this downloadable resource flyer about programs for medical services and prescriptions that may be helpful to you and your family!

  • Applying for Medicare or Medicare Advantage Plans. We recommend that you contact the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-877-801-0044

  • Applying for Social Security Disability.

  • Appealing Social Security Disability decisions.

  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance payments.

  • Medical Malpractice.

  • Criminal Matters

For help finding an attorney on issues we don’t help with:

NEED DIRECT ASSISTANCE?

​If you still need our assistance with these programs after viewing the self-help resources above. Please feel free to reach out to us and we will see if we can help. You can fill out our case inquiry form here or call us at 615-255-0331

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