With TennCare, you can get free mammograms and other preventative care services.
Tennesseans who need assistance in paying medical bills, seeing doctors and getting other health care services but who cannot afford to pay for medical insurance may be able to get coverage with TennCare, Tennessee's Medicaid program. Eligible Tennesseans can get most services like routine checkups, prenatal care, mammograms, pap smears and prostate screenings for free. Adults on TennCare may have to pay a small copayment for certain prescription drugs but there are no pharmacy copayments for eligible children. To find out if you can get Medicaid in Tennessee, submit an application to your local Department of Human Services (DHS) office in Tennessee.
Instructions
1. Meet the category requirements for TennCare. You may qualify for TennCare if you have a low income and you belong to one of these categories: pregnant women, children under 21 years of age, parents or caretakers of minor children, people who get benefits from the Social Security Administration and women who have been diagnosed and are in need of treatment for breast or cervical cancer. Though this list is not complete, these are most of the groups that are covered under Tennessee's Medicaid program.
2. You will need to meet the income requirements for the category you fall under. Each group has its own income limits and some groups even have rules on the amount of resources you can own. Examples of resources include bank accounts, property and vehicles.
For example, to qualify for Medicaid in Tennesse under the pregnant women category, you must have a monthly income of $1,972 for a household of three people and a monthly resource limit of $2,000 as of November 18, 2010. Keep in mind that these numbers should be used for reference purposes only; the only way to find out if you qualify for Medicaid is if you apply.
3. Get an Application for Family Assistance Programs and Benefits (the TennCare application). You may print a copy out from Tennessee's DHS website.
If you don't have a printer, call your local DHS office to request that an application be mailed to you or pick one up at that location. There is a DHS office located in each of Tennessee's 95 counties. To find the phone number and address of your local DHS office, use the office locator on DHS's website.
4. Complete the paper application for TennCare.
Or, if you prefer, you may complete an electronic application online at DHS's website; go to the webpage called "Potential Eligibility Screening and Online Application" to access the online application.
5. Submit the completed application to your local DHS office for consideration. You may submit the application by mailing, faxing or bringing it to the office in person. If you filled out an application online, submit it electronically when you are prompted to do so.
6. Wait to hear from DHS; DHS will inform you of your TennCare eligibility within 45 to 90 days of receiving your application.
7. Appeal the decision if DHS denies you of Medicaid benefits. Call 866-311-4287 to start the appeals process.
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