Tennessee Division of TennCare · Updated August 22, 2026

Tennessee Medicaid (TennCare): 2026 Income Limits, Eligibility & How to Apply

Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid, so TennCare eligibility for adults depends on category rather than income alone. Parents can qualify only at about $1,981 a month for a parent in a family of three; adults without children generally cannot qualify regardless of income. Children, pregnant women, seniors and people with disabilities have their own limits, listed below for 2026.

Single adultNot availableper month, 2026
Family of 4 (adults)Not availableper month
Children, family of 4$7,013per month
Seniors (65+), single$1,330per month + asset test

Tennessee Medicaid guides for 2026

Tennessee Medicaid income limits for parents and caretakers, 2026 (87% of FPL)
Household sizeMonthly income limitAnnual income limit
1 person$1,157$13,885
2 people$1,569$18,827
3 people$1,981$23,768
4 people$2,393$28,710
5 people$2,804$33,652
6 people$3,216$38,593
7 people$3,628$43,535
8 people$4,040$48,476

Each additional person adds $412 per month. Figures use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines and are rounded to the nearest dollar.

Who runs TennCare

TennCare is administered by the Tennessee Division of TennCare under federal rules set by CMS. Children in families over the Medicaid limit are covered by CoverKids, the state CHIP program. Applications are free and can be submitted any day of the year.

Frequently asked questions

Does Tennessee have expanded Medicaid?
No. Tennessee has not adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion, so adults without dependent children generally cannot enroll.
What is Tennessee Medicaid called?
Tennessee's Medicaid program is called TennCare; the children's program is CoverKids. It is run by the Tennessee Division of TennCare.
What is the 2026 income limit for Tennessee Medicaid?
A single adult qualifies up to Not available per month; a family of four up to Not available. Children and pregnant women have higher limits.