Tennessee Medicaid: 2026 Income Limits and Moving In or Out
Moving TO Tennessee
TennCare (Tennessee's Medicaid program) does not accept transferred cases from other states: every new Tennessee resident applies fresh through Division of TennCare. There is no waiting period tied to how recently you arrived — eligibility is decided on Tennessee's own income and household rules from the day you become a resident.
Leaving Tennessee
Leaving Tennessee ends your TennCare (Tennessee's Medicaid program) case — no state will take it over. Close the case with Division of TennCare effective your move month, then apply in your destination state immediately after arriving.
Official agency: Division of TennCare ↗ (application page)
Tennessee Medicaid at a glance
| Program name | TennCare |
|---|---|
| ACA Medicaid expansion | No — adults need a category |
| Adult income limit | no income-only route for adults |
| Processing | Federal 45-day standard (90 days for disability determinations) |
How to apply for Medicaid in Tennessee
Apply with Division of TennCare online at tenncareconnect.tn.gov, which runs the program as TennCare. Go to the official application page ↗
Processing time: Federal 45-day standard (90 days for disability determinations).
Common questions
Who qualifies for Medicaid in Tennessee?
Tennessee has not adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion. Adults generally need to fit a category — pregnancy, a disability, age 65+, or caring for a child — because low income alone does not qualify them.
Can I keep Tennessee Medicaid if I move to another state?
No. Medicaid covers residents only, so Tennessee coverage ends once you live elsewhere. Report the move to Division of TennCare and apply in your new state right away; eligibility there is decided on that state's own rules.
How do I apply for Medicaid in Tennessee?
Apply with Division of TennCare online at tenncareconnect.tn.gov, which runs the program as TennCare. Processing time: federal 45-day standard (90 days for disability determinations).
Who runs Medicaid in Tennessee?
Division of TennCare, which runs the program as TennCare. The official page and application link are cited below — always act through them.
Does Tennessee make new residents wait for Medicaid?
No state may impose a residency waiting period for Medicaid. You apply as soon as you live in Tennessee; eligibility is decided on Tennessee's own rules.
Where do I report that I'm leaving Tennessee?
Contact Division of TennCare (official link below) to report the move and close your case effective your move month.
Every move involving Tennessee
From Tennessee to…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
To Tennessee from…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Other benefits in Tennessee
- SNAP in Tennessee
- WIC in Tennessee
- Unemployment in Tennessee
- TANF in Tennessee
- Medicaid in every state
- State benefits statistics
Terms on this page: Federal poverty level (FPL) · Medicaid expansion · Retroactive Medicaid coverage
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified .
- TennCare Medicaid — eligibility categories — accessed 2026-08-08
- TennCare — members and applicants (Apply Now / TennCare Connect) — accessed 2026-08-08