Tennessee Medicaid (TennCare) Eligibility for Seniors

TennCare is Tennessee's Medicaid program, administered by the Division of TennCare within the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration. For long-term care, the relevant program is TennCare CHOICES, which covers nursing-facility care and home- and community-based services for eligible older adults.

Financial eligibility (2026)

• Income limit: $2,982/month (300% of the SSI FBR) — income above this threshold may use a Miller Trust (Qualified Income Trust) to qualify
• Asset limit: $2,000 (individual); $3,000 (couple where both apply)
• Exempt assets: primary home (while intending to return or with a qualifying relative living there), one vehicle, personal belongings, prepaid burial/funeral arrangements up to a set limit
• Look-back: 60-month look-back period on asset transfers (gifts, sales below fair market value)

Clinical eligibility

A nursing-facility level of care determination is required for CHOICES. This is assessed by the MCO using a standardized tool. Applicants who meet financial criteria but not clinical criteria will not qualify for CHOICES but may qualify for standard TennCare coverage.

Applying

Apply at TennCare Connect or call 855-259-0701. A DHS office can also accept applications. The GNRC AAAD (615-255-1010) and elder-law attorneys can help with the application and spend-down planning.

Estate recovery

Tennessee is required to seek recovery of TennCare costs from the estate of a beneficiary who was 55 or older when receiving benefits, after the beneficiary's death. Certain protections exist for surviving spouses and dependent children — consult an elder-law attorney before planning asset transfers near a Medicaid application.

Free help from a local Nashville advisor

Nashville Senior Advisor connects families across Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Sumner, Maury, Robertson, and Dickson counties with a free local advisor — no fees, ever. We help you understand your options, compare licensed providers, verify TDH and CMS credentials, and coordinate the move. Tell us your situation →

Common questions

Getting senior-care help in the Nashville metro

If you're starting a senior-care search in the Nashville metro, the process is simpler than it looks. It begins with an honest assessment of what your parent actually needs day to day, followed by a realistic budget and a look at how to fund it — savings, long-term-care insurance, VA Aid & Attendance, or Tennessee's TennCare CHOICES for those who qualify. Only then does it make sense to tour communities, because the care level determines which licensed options can legally serve your parent.

Nashville metro families also have free public resources. The GNRC Area Agency on Aging & Disability (615-255-1010 / 866-836-6678) screens seniors for meals, in-home support, caregiver respite, and benefits counseling. Much of it is free or sliding-scale and doesn't require Medicaid. A single call can unlock several programs at once.

The Tennessee safety net behind your decision

Tennessee licenses and inspects senior care through TDH (Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities) (look up any provider at tn.gov/health), funds in-home and community services through the regional Area Agency on Aging — the GNRC AAAD in the Nashville metro — and covers long-term care for those who qualify through TennCare CHOICES. The Ombudsman and TDH Adult Protective Services safeguard residents. These are the same programs we help families navigate for free.

Why families choose a local Nashville metro advisor

National senior-living websites are essentially lead brokers: enter your information and a dozen communities call you within minutes, whether they fit or not. A local advisor works differently. We focus only on the Nashville metro — Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Sumner, Maury, Robertson, and Dickson counties — so we know the buildings, the directors, and which providers are genuinely strong for memory care versus assisted living versus Residential Homes for the Aged. We shortlist two or three real fits instead of selling your contact details to the highest bidder.

Both models are free to families, because communities pay a referral fee only when someone moves in. The difference is depth and trust: we verify every option against the TDH license database and CMS Nursing Home Compare, we tell you about good providers that don't pay us, and we stay reachable after the move. That local, lighter-touch approach is why families across the Nashville metro start with us rather than a national 800 number.

Free help from a local Nashville advisor

Nashville Senior Advisor connects families across Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Sumner, Maury, Robertson, and Dickson counties with a free local advisor — no fees, ever. We help you understand your options, compare licensed providers, verify TDH and CMS credentials, and coordinate the move. Tell us your situation →

What to do next in the Nashville metro

Senior-care decisions rarely improve by waiting, but they don't have to be made in a panic either. The most useful first step is a short, no-pressure conversation that turns a vague worry into a concrete plan: what level of care fits, what it will realistically cost in the Nashville metro, and which licensed communities or services are genuine candidates right now. From there, touring two or three real fits beats wading through dozens of listings.

• Free assessment. A 15-minute call to pin down care needs, budget, and timeline.
• A real shortlist. Two or three TDH-licensed options that actually fit — not a dozen sales calls.
• Hands-on help. We help you tour, compare itemized pricing, and coordinate the move.
• Always free to families. We're paid by the community only if you choose to move in.

Whether you need help this week or are planning months ahead, a free the Nashville metro advisor can save you days of research and a costly mismatch. Tell us what's going on — there's no obligation.