Medicaid/TennCare

The Medicaid program provides medical benefits to eligible individuals who may have no medical insurance or inadequate medical insurance. Medicaid became law in 1965 as a jointly funded cooperative between the federal and state governments to assist states in providing adequate medical care to eligible individuals. Although the Federal government establishes general guidelines for the program, the Medicaid program requirements are established by each State. Whether or not a person is eligible for Medicaid will depend on the State where he or she lives.

In 1994 the State of Tennessee implemented a new health care reform plan called TennCare. TennCare extended coverage to the Medicaid population and coverage to individuals who were determined to be uninsured or uninsurable, using a system of Managed Care Organizations (MCO).

The Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration administers the State's TennCare program and contracts with the Department of Human Services to determine eligibility for more than 40 different Medicaid-eligible groups and the TennCare Standard program. Click here for an application that you can take or mail to your local Department of Human Services office.

For more information on the Medicaid Program, visit:http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicaidGenInfo/

Learn more about:

Applying for Services

Medicaid/TennCare Coverage Groups

Medicaid Coverage for the Medically Needy/Spend Down Category

Medicare Information

Tenncare Medicaid and Tenncare Standard Policy Manual

TennCare Standard Coverage

Contact information Family Assistance Service Center: 1-866-311-4287 Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB): 1-800-624-5547 Tenncare Member Services & Crossover Billing: 1-800-523-2863 Medicare: 1-800-772-1213 Locate your local DHS Office