SELF-HELP AND INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS
Not sure if you have TennCare or CoverKids coverage? Please 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. Check out this downloadable resource flyer about programs for medical services and prescriptions that may be helpful to you and your family!
Help getting the health care you need?
We may be able to help! We work with individuals and families to see if they qualify for public health benefits like…
- TennCare – is Tennessee’s Medicaid program that 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.
- Children under the age of 21 years can get vision and dental care too.
- See “How to Apply…” below.
- All about TennCare flyer
- CoverKids – is Tennessee’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that 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.
- 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.
- See “How to Apply…” below.
- 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.
- See “How to Apply…” below.
- 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. When you are enrolled in CHOICES you not only have health insurance coverage through TennCare, but also extra help with activities of daily living (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 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients and the care in your home or community doesn’t cost more than $15,000.
- How to apply for CHOICES:
- If you are already on TennCare, you need to call your Managed Care Organization (MCO). The phone number should be on your card.
- If you are NOT on TennCare, call the Area Agency on Aging and Disability at 1-888-836-6678.
- Contact us if you have applied for CHOICES and:
- Your application was denied.
- You were told that you need a Qualified Income Trust (QIT).
- You were told that you have too many resources.
- ADLs include:
- Employment and Community First CHOICES (ECF CHOICES) – is Tennessee’s program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. When you are enrolled into ECF CHOICES, you not only have health insurance coverage through TennCare, but you should also receive additional services. These services include help getting a job or living as independently as possible in the community.
- How to apply for ECF CHOICES:
- If you want to apply, you must complete TennCare’s self-referral form. You can get it here.
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- Need help applying?
- Contact the TJC by calling toll free at 1-877-608-1009; OR
- If you are already on TennCare, you need to call your Managed Care Organization (MCO). The phone number should be on your card.
- If you are NOT on TennCare, you need to 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
- Need help applying?
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- Temporary TennCare Coverage – Certain groups of people can get temporary TennCare coverage through 1 of 3 presumptive eligibility (PE) programs:
- Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant Women – you can apply at your local health department. For a list of local health departments, click here.
- Presumptive Eligibility for Women with Breast or Cervical Cancer – you can apply at your local health department and certain other clinics throughout the state. For a list of local health departments and participating clinics, click here.
- Hospital Presumptive Eligibility (HPE) – certain hospitals can enroll individuals they believe meet TennCare’s eligibility rules for these groups:
- Children under the age 19.
- Pregnant women.
- Parents and caretaker relatives of dependent children under the age 19.
- Former foster are children up to age 26
- For a list of hospitals participating in HPE, click here.
- IMPORTANT – this coverage is only temporary – usually only 62 days or so. To keep your coverage, you will need to submit a full application to TennCare before your temporary coverage ends.
- Generally, the organization that helps you apply for presumptive eligibility can also help you submit a full application.
How to apply…
You can apply for TennCare, CoverKids and Medicare Savings Programs online by clicking here.
- Then click on the APPLY NOW button and follow the directions.
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- If you already have a TennCare Connect account, click the SIGN IN button.
- You can also call TennCare Connect at 1-855-259-0701. The call is free.
- You can also complete a paper application and
- Fax it to TennCare Connect at 1-855-315-0669.
- THEN mail it to: TennCare Connect, PO Box 305240, Nashville, TN 37202-5240
- When faxing or mailing applications or other documents to TennCare, please save a copy for your records as well as a fax receipt or proof of mailing.
- All about TennCare flyer
Were you on TennCare or CoverKids and lost it?
Chances are you lost your coverage through the annual renewal process called, “redetermination”. People can lose their coverage for several reasons including:
- No longer qualifying for a program due to their age or the age of a child in their home.
- Their income is too high.
- Have too many resources like cars, land or money in the bank.
- Not returning the packet to TennCare by the deadline.
We may be able to help! Simply give us a call toll free at 1-877-608-1009 or complete the online form at the bottom of this page.
Has your Social Security payment been cut, and you don’t know why?
You may have been getting help paying your premiums and other costs from a Medicare Savings Program (MSP) that is no longer in effect. With an MSP, TennCare was actually paying your premiums for you. But, each year you need to renew your MSP through a process called “redetermination”. People can lose their coverage for several reasons including:
- Their income is too high.
- Have too many resources like cars, land or money in the bank.
- Not returning the packet to TennCare by the deadline.
We may be able to help! Simply give us a call toll free at 1-877-608-1009 or complete the online form at the bottom of this page.
Did you receive a renewal packet from TennCare in the Mail?
Please read it carefully. In the packet you should find a date that it must be returned to TennCare. If you can’t do that or if you need help filling out the paperwork, we may be able to help. Please give us a call toll free at 1-877-608-1009 or complete the online form at the bottom of this page.
Other ways we may be able to help you:
- 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.
- Screening to see if you qualify for other insurance affordability programs like premium tax credits and cost sharing reductions available through the federal marketplace (healthcare.gov).
Unfortunately, we cannot help you with the following problems:
- 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…
- Contact the Tennessee Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service in your area:
- East Tennessee 865-522-7501
- Middle Tennessee 615-242-6546
- Southeast Tennessee 423-756-3222
- To access their website, click here.
- Contact your regional Legal Aid Society Office:
CONTACT US
Tennessee Justice Center provides direct assistance on some healthcare and some nutrition/anti-hunger related issues. If you would like to see if we can help you please can call us, email us or fill out our Case Inquiry Form here. The form will take about 4 minutes to complete. We may not be able to help you. Make sure you provide us with some way to contact you. After you contact us, someone from Tennessee Justice Center should reach out to you soon. They will ask more questions to see if we can help.
