Ways to apply for TennCare
These are the channels Tennessee names on its own Medicaid pages. Use whichever is easiest.
- Online
-
Apply online
tenncareconnect.tn.gov
- By phone
- Call 855-259-0701
- In person
- Help in person from the local county Department of Health office.
- By mail
- Get the paper application
- HealthCare.gov
- You can also apply at HealthCare.gov any time of year. If anyone in your household looks eligible for Medicaid, it sends your information to Tennessee's agency.
- Decision time
- Federal rules give the state up to 45 days to decide, or 90 days if you apply based on a disability (42 CFR 435.912).
Read on the state's own pages, October 13, 2026.
Documents you'll need
- Photo ID (state-issued ID or passport)
- Social Security number for every household member applying
- Proof of income for the last 30 days (pay stubs, tax return, benefit letter)
- Proof of US citizenship or lawful presence
- Proof of address (utility bill, lease, or official mail)
- For pregnancy: a clinician-signed pregnancy verification
- For disability category: medical records if applying disability-based
How to apply in Tennessee
Use any of the ways to apply listed above. They are the channels TennCare names on its own pages, read on October 13, 2026.
Documents you'll need: proof of identity (state ID or passport), Social Security numbers for everyone applying, proof of income for the last 30 days (pay stubs, tax return, unemployment award letter), proof of US citizenship or lawful presence, proof of address (utility bill, lease, piece of official mail), and for pregnancy-related Medicaid, a pregnancy verification letter from a clinician. If you do not have every document, apply anyway and send the rest when the agency asks.
Language support: every state Medicaid program must offer interpretation and translation at no cost under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Ask for an interpreter when you call or, for written translations, request them in writing. If the state denies reasonable language access, you can file a complaint with the HHS Office for Civil Rights.
How long a decision takes: federal rule 42 CFR 435.912 says the determination may not exceed 45 days for most applicants and 90 days for people who apply on the basis of disability (eCFR). TennCare operates under a Section 1115 block-grant waiver, the only one of its kind in the country, which Governor Lee's administration secured in January 2021. Tennessee remains a non-expansion state; the Tennessee Justice Center has led the coverage-gap advocacy campaign.
For Black families
Community enrollment navigators serving Black families in Tennessee are the most reliable route if you want someone to sit with you through the application. Federally Qualified Health Centers have certified application counselors on staff and cannot turn you away for inability to pay. TennCare operates under a Section 1115 block-grant waiver, the only one of its kind in the country, which Governor Lee's administration secured in January 2021. Tennessee remains a non-expansion state; the Tennessee Justice Center has led the coverage-gap advocacy campaign.
Where to get help in Tennessee
- Federally Qualified Health Centers in Tennessee: every FQHC accepts Medicaid, charges on a sliding scale for the uninsured, and has certified application counselors who can help you apply or renew. See our FQHC directory for this state at /clinics/tn/.
- Medicaid-accepting providers in Tennessee: our provider directory lets you filter to providers in this state. See /providers/tn/.
- State health profile for Tennessee: for state-level health outcomes context (maternal mortality, infant mortality, life expectancy, uninsured rate) by race, see /health/tennessee/.
- The application line TennCare lists on its own pages: 855-259-0701. Ask for an interpreter if you need one; language access is required under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
- Find a Navigator: federally funded Navigators help with Medicaid + ACA marketplace applications and are free. Find one via localhelp.healthcare.gov.
References & primary sources
- TennCare, state Medicaid portal: https://www.tn.gov/tenncare.
- KFF State Health Facts: kff.org/statedata. Medicaid income eligibility + enrollment.
- Medicaid.gov: medicaid.gov. Federal program guidance + state plan amendments.
Data refreshed:
More Tennessee Medicaid facets
If you have Medicaid, the coverage on this page is the route to use first: it costs you nothing and it is what these programs exist for. If you are not covered yet, there is still a free option. Our directory of free and charitable clinics lists centers by state. The option below is self-pay and is not billed to Medicaid. It is here for readers who are between coverage or who prefer to pay out of pocket:
Sesame Care
See a doctor online today.
Same-day video visits from $34
See a doctor today