Getting care in Tennessee without insurance
What TennCare is and who can get it
TennCare is the name of Medicaid in Tennessee. It covers children, pregnant women, parents, older adults and people with disabilities who meet its rules.
Parents and caretakers with a child at home have one of the higher income limits in any state that has not expanded Medicaid. KFF, a health policy research group, lists the limit for a parent in a family of three at 105 percent of the federal poverty level, as of January 2026. The federal poverty level is the income amount the government uses each year to decide who counts as poor.
Adults without children at home generally cannot get TennCare, unless they are pregnant, disabled or older. KFF lists the limit for these other adults as zero. Even a very low income does not help them qualify.
Tennessee and Medicaid expansion
KFF's tracker, dated October 2026, shows Tennessee among the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid. Because Tennessee has not done this, some adults fall into a coverage gap.
Help with Marketplace costs generally begins once your income reaches the poverty level. An adult with no child at home and an income below that line gets no TennCare and no Marketplace help. Community health centers are the best place to start. Rules can change, so ask TennCare Connect for the latest.
How do I apply for TennCare?
You can apply at any time of year, and it costs nothing. The state gives several ways to get started.
- You can create an account and apply online at TennCare Connect.
- You can call TennCare Connect for free at 855-259-0701 to get help over the phone.
- You can go to a Department of Human Services office, which has staff to help you apply. Every one of Tennessee's 95 counties has one, and you can call 866-311-4287 to find the closest.
- You can apply through HealthCare.gov. If you look eligible, your information is passed on to TennCare.
If you have a disability, the state says someone from your local Area Agency on Aging and Disability can come to your home to help. You can reach them at 866-836-6678.
Children and pregnant women can also apply for CoverKids, a separate state program for those who earn too much for TennCare.
What if I do not qualify for TennCare?
Tennessee uses HealthCare.gov for Marketplace plans, and the help with monthly costs depends on your income. Our guide on what to do after losing insurance helps if your coverage ended with a job. Our guide on the Medicaid gap covers what to do when you fall between the two programs.
Finding a community health center in Tennessee
The Tennessee Primary Care Association supports the state's health centers, and its website links to a Find a Health Center tool. The federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has a free tool of the same name. You enter your city or zip code, and the tool shows the nearest centers.
Please call the center first and ask about new patient steps, proof of income and cost. Our guides on community health centers and sliding scale clinics explain how these fees work.
How can I check that a Tennessee doctor is licensed?
The Tennessee Department of Health runs the Board of Medical Examiners, which licenses medical doctors. The board's page has a License Verifications link. The department also has a tool to verify health licenses. You can find them by searching for Tennessee Department of Health license verification.
A license shows that the doctor is approved to practice in Tennessee. It helps to look it up before you sign up with a new practice.
Direct primary care in Tennessee
Under direct primary care, you pay your doctor a set fee for regular care. The Direct Primary Care Coalition counts Tennessee as a state with a direct primary care law.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance has also written a notice for consumers. It describes a direct primary care agreement as a contract between a doctor and a patient for a set monthly, yearly or per-visit fee. The department warns that these fees will probably not count toward an insurance deductible. A deductible is the amount you pay yourself each year before insurance starts to pay. The department also says it does not review a practice's finances or its fees.
Our directory lets you search cash-pay doctors near you. Direct primary care is not insurance and does not pay for the emergency room or a hospital stay. Our direct primary care guide shows how these memberships work.
Emergencies in Tennessee
If you cannot breathe, have chest pain or are bleeding badly, call 911 or go to an emergency room right away. A federal law called EMTALA says the emergency room must examine and stabilize you, whether or not you have insurance.
Our guides on emergency room care without insurance and hospital financial assistance explain what to do about the bill.
Common questions
Can parents in Tennessee get TennCare?
Parents can qualify if the income is low enough. KFF lists the limit for a parent in a family of three at 105 percent of the federal poverty level, as of January 2026. Adults without children at home generally cannot get TennCare.
Which phone number helps me apply for TennCare?
You can call TennCare Connect for free at 855-259-0701. You can also apply online, visit a Department of Human Services office, or apply through HealthCare.gov.
Is there a Tennessee program for children who earn too much for TennCare?
Children and pregnant women can apply for CoverKids, a separate state program for those who earn too much for TennCare.
Who helps a person with a disability apply for TennCare at home?
The state says someone from your local Area Agency on Aging and Disability can come to your home. You can reach them at 866-836-6678.
What did Tennessee's insurance department say about direct primary care?
It wrote a consumer notice. The notice says these fees will probably not count toward an insurance deductible, and the department does not review a practice's fees.
This guide is general information, not medical, legal or tax advice. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.