Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program (TN SHIP)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Tennessee. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
Medicare and health costs
TennCare (Medicaid) in Tennessee
TennCare is Tennessee's Medicaid program. For people 65 and older it mainly comes through SSI, with an income limit of $994 a month for one person and a $2,000 savings limit.
People who need nursing-home care, or home and community-based services instead, may qualify for Institutional Medicaid with income up to $2,982 a month.
How to apply in Tennessee
- By phone
- 1-855-259-0701
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in Tennessee
| One person | Married couple | |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit (2026) | $994 a month (through SSI) | $1,491 a month (through SSI) |
| Savings limit (2026) | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Spend-down if your income is over the limit | No: TennCare's eligibility guide lists no spend-down program for people 65 and older |
|---|---|
| Income limit for nursing-home or home-care Medicaid (2026) | $2,982 a month (Institutional Medicaid, for a nursing facility or home and community-based services); savings limit $2,000 |
| Medicaid for adults under 65 (expansion) | No: TennCare's eligibility guide has no coverage group for low-income adults under 65 without children; caretaker relatives may qualify up to 100% of the poverty level |
Source: Division of TennCare (source 1)
Free help
Free help with this in Tennessee
Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Tennessee
Medicaid for older adults in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
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- Ohio
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- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
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- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- Division of TennCare, TennCare Eligibility Reference Guide (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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