Compare by State – Medicare Plans in Tennessee

Tennessee Medicare Plans

Tennessee residents turning 65 become eligible for Medicare will need to make a decision as to whether to enroll in Medicare Supplement insurance or Medicare Advantage.

The Medicare Supplements plan will cover the deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and more than Original Medicare which can save you thousands of dollars. Additionally, you will have the freedom to see any doctor that accepts Medicare.

Medicare Advantage plans offer similar coverage to Original Medicare, but offer additionals, like prescription drug coverage, and don’t always cost you an additional premium.

Tennessee Medicare Plans Open Enrollment

Medicare beneficiaries in Tennessee are eligible for Medicare at age 65. Initial enrollment begins three months before your birth month and lasts three months after. During initial enrollment, you can also apply for Medicare Supplements.

Initial enrollment begins three months before your birth month and lasts three months after. This is also the time you can apply for Medicare Supplements. While you can enroll in a supplement at any time, initial enrollment is the best time to do so because you cannot be turned down due to health conditions considering you won’t have to answer health questions on your application. If you miss this window, you’ll likely have to answer health questions to apply, which means you could be turned down by other Tennessee Medicare supplement plans.

Tennessee Medicare Advantage Plans

Tennessee has up to 37 Medicare Advantage plans available, depending on what county you live in. These plans have been getting more popular over the years to Tennessee residents. Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C plans, is a private Medicare plan that provides all Original Medicare benefits but also includes additional benefits like dental, vision and prescription drugs coverage.

Most Medicare Advantage plans in Tennessee have a network of doctors, with the most common plans being an HMO and PPO. With Medicare HMO, you generally have to use the plan’s network of providers except in emergencies. In Medicare PPO plans, you can be treated outside the network, but at a higher cost.

In Tennessee, open enrollment for Medicare Advantage begins on January 1 and ends on March 31. Those who are already enrolled in Medicare Advantage can switch to a different plan during this open enrollment or opt to have Original Medicare instead.

Tennessee Medicare Part D

There are over 29 Medicare Part D plans available in Tennessee. Remember, Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement plans don’t offer coverage for prescription drugs, so if take or anticipate needing a lot of prescription drugs, enrolling in Medicare Part D might be a good option.

Tennessee Medigap Plans

Contrary to popular belief, your Part A & Part B benefits do not cover all of your medical expenses during retirement. Medigap plans to help people pay for things like deductibles and coinsurances.

Medicare Supplements in Tennessee cover some, or even all, of the deductibles and coinsurance left over by Original Medicare.

This can save you thousands in out-of-pocket expenses, putting a cap on those costs, and this plan doesn’t limit you to a network of doctors that accept Medicare only.

There are 10 plans lettered A through N that offer standardized coverage. This means all plans lettered the same have to offer the same coverage and the only difference is price. So, be sure to shop your coverage.

Medicare Advantage for Tennessee Residents Under the Age of 65 with Disabilities

While Medicare is generally reserved for those turning 65, there are cases in which someone may be eligible for Medicare under the age of 65. This includes individuals with disabilities who have received Social Security Disability Income for 24 months or have End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).

It is important to note that there is a five-month waiting period after a beneficiary is determined to be disabled before they can begin to collect Social Security Disability Income. People who meet all the criteria for Social Security Disability Income are generally automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. For the people who meet the standards, but do not qualify for Social Security Income, have an option to purchase Medicare by paying a Part A premium monthly as well as a monthly Part B premium.

An exception to the 5-month waiting people does apply for those people with ESRD and ALS. These individuals do not have to collect benefits for 24 months in order to become eligible for Medicare.

The requirements for Medicare eligibility for people with ESRD and ALS are:

ESRD – Generally 3 months after a course of regular dialysis begins or after a kidney transplant
ALS – Immediately upon collecting Social Security Disability benefits

Regrettably, those with disabilities often have lower incomes, require more health care, and find it more difficult to pay for and obtain care compared to Medicare beneficiaries over 65 years of age. Take our questionnaire to see if you qualify for Medicare benefits, even if you are under the age of 65.

Every state is different, and so obtaining Medicare benefits in Tennessee can be complicated or confusing. If you are disabled or under the age of 65 wondering if you qualify, it is best to contact us directly to see if you are eligible.

What Medicare Advantage benefits am I eligible for under the age of 65 in Tennessee?

At 100Insure, we can help you discover benefits you might be eligible for including:

Premiums starting at $0 per month
Coverage for copays and deductibles
Prescription drugs
Dental
Vision
Hearing
And transportation to the doctor and pharmacy

That’s right. Our company has helped qualified people under the age of 65 in Tennessee receive benefits like:

Massage services
Meals after a hospital
Food for their service dog
A gym membership
Money for vitamins and groceries
Home improvements
In home care & aides
And pest control services

Medicare Coverage for Working People in Tennessee with Disabilities

Medicare eligibility for working people with disabilities falls into three distinct time frames.

Trial work period– extends 9 months after a disabled individual obtains a job
Second period– This period is for 93 months after the end of the trial work period.
Third period– An indefinite period following those 93 months.

Keep in mind that Medicare eligibility during each of these periods applies only while the individual continues to meet the medical standard for being considered disabled under Social Security rules.