How to Get Health Care in Tennessee for Uninsured Workers

TennCare was bankrupting the state of Tennessee, hopefully CoverTN, launched this March by Governor Phil Bredesen will be the answer for an affordable, comprehensive health care program for working Tennesseans, who do not have have health insurance. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee will administer CoverTN, which creates a partnership between state, small business and employees. It is not a mandated program or an entitlement program-it is another option for people in Tennessee to obtain private, portable insurance, which means the individual owns the insurance, not the state or the company.

Cover Tennessee includes 5 programs:

1. Three Insurance Plans
a) CoverKids
b) AccessTN
c) CoverTN

2. Pharmacy Assistance for the Uninsured
a) CoverRX

3. Prevention, Healthy Lifestyles, and Personal Responsibility
a) ProjectDiabetes
b) Coordinated School Health

Who are the uninsured?
According to a statewide study, 53% of Tennessee's working uninsured work for a company of fewer than 25 employees
58% of uninsured have family incomes below $30,000
83% of working uninsured are in permanent, full-time positions.
80% of those surveyed do not buy health insurance because they can't afford it.
other research indicates that employers nor employees want to pay more than $100 per month.
March 2006 US Census Data indicate:
833,114 uninsured Tennesseans, 705,441 adults and 127,673 children under 18

A quick overview of each of the 5 programs: For all programs, one has to be a US citizen or qualified legal alien and meet FPL (poverty level standards for working Tennesseans) Other eligibilities include one's use of tobacco, weight and age and plan deductibles from $1000, $2500 to $5000 will determine premiums. Premiums range based on the above requirements and plan chosen

CoverKids:

Comprehensive plan based on state employee health plan
Not been insured for 3 months, waived for newborns up to 4 months
Screened first for TennCare
Children 18 and under
Maternity coverage available for pregnant women

AccessTN: