TENNderCare Covers Tots, Kids, and Teens in Tennessee ...

by Jen Thorpe | More from this Blogger

Every state has its own Medicaid program. Some portion of that program is typically designed to cover newborns, children, and teenagers. In Tennessee, this program is called TENNderCare. It covers tots, kids, teenagers, and those under 21 years of age.

Medicaid is a public, or government run, form of health insurance. It provides health insurance coverage for individuals and families who are low-income and who cannot afford to buy a health plan from a private insurance company. Funding for Medicaid comes from both the federal government and also from the government of an individual state.

In Tennessee, the Medicaid program is called TennCare. It is administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Some states call the part of Medicaid that covers children CHIP. In Tennessee, the program is called TENNderCare. It covers children who come from low-income families from birth through age 21. It covers children who are already covered by TennCare (the state's primary Medicaid program).

TENNderCare provides checkups and health care services to make sure that babies, children, teens, and young adults receive the health care that they need. Dental coverage is included through TennDent.

The state of Tennessee uses this helpful phrase: "Check in, Check up, Check back". Checkups are provide for free. This includes checkups for vision, hearing, dental, and mental health. You can find resources that explain more about what age a child should have certain checkups done through the TENNderCare website.

Not every state covers mental health for kids, but Tennessee does. It includes Behavioral Health Services. TENNderCare can help if your child is having trouble with Behavioral Problems (including anger management), ADD/ADHD, Alcohol or drug abuse, eating disorders, or mental health issues (including major depression, schizophrenia, bi-polar, etc.).

TennCare also will covers services that are "medically necessary". This can include medical care, dental services, prescriptions, transportation to health care providers, hospital services, x-rays, physical therapy, speech therapy, or occupational therapy, and mental health services.

Children under the age of 21 who are eligible for TENNderCare will be automatically assigned to a Health Plan. The one they are assigned to is determined by the area of Tennessee that the child lives in. There is one plan for dental care through TENNderCare, and it is called TennDent. This is the same no matter where in Tennessee an eligible child happens to live.

To apply for TennCare, or other Medicaid programs, a person can visit their local Department of Human Services. Or, they can call to have an application sent to them. The application can be mailed out after it is completed. It is also possible to apply online.

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I am currently writing for the Insurance, Deals, Genealogy, and Special Needs blogs.I have also written for the Parenting,Money, Homeschooling, Preschool, Health, Food and Weightloss blogs.

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Source: http://insurance.families.com/blog/tenndercare-covers-tots-kids-and-teens-in-tennessee

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