A landlocked state in the Southeast, Tennessee’s borders are marked by the rugged Appalachians to the east and the Mississippi River to the west. The state ties with Missouri as the state bordering the most states. Home to Nashville, Elvis Presley’s Graceland home, and The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee has a bustling cultural scene. Politically, Tennessee is increasingly divided among rural-urban areas, with cities leaning Democratic and rural areas leaning Republican; however, Tennessee has supported Republican candidates in presidential elections since 2000. The Volunteer State did not take a defined stance during the Supreme Court battle over the Affordable Care Act, and it did not accept additional funding to expand Medicaid.
Enrollment through the Years
Obamacare in Tennessee is available through the federal marketplace. Tennessee saw a spike in enrollment between 2015 and 2016, but the number of enrollees dropped in 2017.
- 231,440 Tennesseans enrolled in 2015
- 268,867 Tennesseans enrolled in 2016
- 234,125 Tennesseans enrolled in 2017
In 2017, there were 75,987 new marketplace enrollees. The remaining 158,138 people returned from the previous year. Like other states that saw a decline in enrollment from 2016 to 2017, Tennessee may have been affected by the uncertainty surrounding the ACA’s future. Most current Obamacare enrollees in Tennessee are in the 55-64 age demographic.
Cost Assistance
Since Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid, many low-income families will not qualify for assistance based on income. Those meeting certain income requirements in Tennessee may be eligible for extra savings on marketplace plans through subsidies (for people earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty limit) and cost-sharing reductions (for those earning up to 250 percent of the poverty limit).
In 2017, 85 percent of enrollees received tax credits to offset premium costs while 57 percent of those enrolled in the marketplace received cost-sharing reductions.
Carrier Participation & Plan Availability
Tennessee residents had three carrier options in the marketplace for 2017, and 530 plans were available in total. Even with multiple plan options, availability varies depending on county. The number of carriers is expected to shrink to two in 2018, and many counties may only have one carrier.
Note: The information provided on this page is constantly being updated with the latest statistical data available. Check back soon for updates.
