Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Policies

Tennessee requires insurers to offer at least Medicare Supplement policy to adults under sixty-five afflicted with disability.

Mini-COBRA Policies

Tennessee requires small employers to provide fifteen months of continuation coverage.

Medicare Savings Program (Premium Support)

Tennessee has three Medicare Savings Programs:

Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMBs): For individuals with a monthly income under $903 and for couples with a monthly income under $1214, the state pays all premiums for Part B and all Co-Pays and Deductibles for Parts A & B.
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries (SLMBs): For individuals with income under $1083 or couples with income under $1457, the state pays premiums for Part B.
Qualified Individuals (QIs): For individuals with income under $1218 or for couples with an income under $1639, the state pays premiums for Part B.

To qualify for any one of these programs, participants must have assets below $6,600 or be part of a couple with assets below $9,910.

State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Tennessee's SHIP program offers individual counseling and assistance to persons who have or will soon have Medicare, as well as to their family members, caregivers and advocates. SHIP also works to educate community groups about current Medicare issues. SHIP counselors, located at the nine (9) Area Agencies on Aging & Disability (AAADs) throughout the state, can provide information on: the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D); Original Medicare and Supplemental Insurances; Medicare Advantage Health Plans; Claims and Billing Problems; Long-Term Care Insurance; Nursing Home Medicaid; Medicaid for Home and Community-Based Care; Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI-1) and Medicare and Medicaid or TennCare. http://www.state.tn.us/comaging/ship.html

High-Risk Pool
Tennessee does have a high-risk insurance pool, open to residents on the basis of medical eligibility.
http://www.covertn.gov/

State Pharmaceutical Assistance
Tennessee offers pharmaceutical assistance to those with end-stage renal disease.
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/kidney/

Low-Income Subsidy (“extra-help”) for Prescription Drugs:
This program is a subsidy for Part D recipients with resources under $13,070 (or $26,120 for a couple) to receive money towards a Medicare prescription drug plan. The benchmark of support is different depending on which region of the country you live in. In Tennessee in 2012, the low-income subsidy was $31.71 per month.

If you live in Tennessee, and you are interested in getting a Medicare Plan, please contact the Medicare experts at eAmeriFamily Insurance. They are industry veterans and will guide you through the process of getting the right Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or MediGap Plan for you.