Medicaid in Tennessee (2026): Eligibility and How to Apply

What Is Tennessee Medicaid?

Medicaid is a joint federal-state health insurance program that provides free or low-cost coverage to people who meet income and eligibility requirements. In Tennessee, the Medicaid program is called Tennessee Medicaid. It is administered by the state but jointly funded by state and federal governments.

Tennessee Has NOT Expanded Medicaid

Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA. Medicaid eligibility for non-disabled, non-pregnant adults without children is extremely limited: Tennessee runs no general category for them at all, so eligibility turns on fitting a specific one — pregnancy, disability, or caring for a dependent child — rather than on income. Most low-income adults in Tennessee who do not fit a traditional Medicaid eligibility category must use the ACA marketplace for coverage.

Adults earning below 100% FPL in non-expansion states like Tennessee fall into the "coverage gap" — they earn too little to qualify for marketplace subsidies (which start at 100% FPL) but too much for their state’s Medicaid program. The ARP and IRA enhanced subsidies expired on 31 December 2025, and the coverage gap remains a significant issue in non-expansion states.

Tennessee Medicaid Eligibility Categories

Beyond the general adult expansion (in states that expanded), Medicaid covers several other groups:

• Children: All states cover children in families at much higher income thresholds than adult Medicaid, often up to 200-300% FPL or more through CHIP
• Pregnant women: Covered at higher income thresholds (typically 185-250% FPL) in all states
• People with disabilities: SSI recipients and people with qualifying disabilities are eligible in all states
• Elderly adults: Adults 65+ with limited income and resources qualify through the Medicare Savings Programs

Marketplace as Alternative in Tennessee

If you don’t qualify for Tennessee Medicaid, the ACA marketplace is your primary option. Tennessee marketplace carriers include: Alliant Health Plans, Ambetter of Tennessee, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Cigna, Oscar and UnitedHealthcare.... ACA premium tax credits are available for households earning between 100% and 400% FPL (~$15,650–$62,600 for a single adult in 2026).