For health insurance, Tennessee uses the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027; enroll by Dec 15 for a Jan 1 start. Tennessee did not expand Medicaid, so Marketplace subsidies start at 100% of the poverty level and many low-income adults fall into a coverage gap.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026). Reviewed by a licensed agent.
- Health insurance Tennessee at a glance (2027)
- How individual coverage works in Tennessee
- 2027 Open Enrollment dates
- TennCare, CoverKids and the coverage gap
- Premium tax credits for Tennesseans in 2027
- Insurers filing 2027 plans, and Cigna’s exit
- Memphis, Knoxville and the rest of the state
- Free help and consumer protection
- How Honesty helps Tennessee shoppers
- Frequently asked questions
Health insurance Tennessee at a glance for 2027
Tennessee has no state-run exchange. Individual and family plans are sold on HealthCare.gov, Medicaid is called TennCare, and children’s coverage beyond TennCare is called CoverKids. The table collects the official names, dates and contacts for the 2027 plan year in one place.
| Item | Tennessee, 2027 plan year |
|---|---|
| Exchange | Federal Marketplace, HealthCare.gov |
| Open Enrollment | Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027 (by Dec 15 for Jan 1 coverage) |
| Medicaid expansion | Not adopted (KFF tracker) |
| Medicaid program | TennCare; apply at TennCare Connect |
| CHIP | CoverKids (children under 19 and pregnant women up to 250% FPL) |
| State premium subsidy or reinsurance | None found; Tennesseans use the federal premium tax credit |
| Uninsured rate | 9.7% in 2024 vs. 8.2% nationally (Census ACS) |
| Insurance regulator | Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) |
| Federal Navigator | Family & Children’s Service (statewide) |
The uninsured figure comes from the Census Bureau brief Health Insurance Coverage by State: 2023 and 2024. Among working-age adults 19 to 64, Tennessee’s uninsured rate was 13.6% in 2024. If cost is your main worry, start with our affordable health insurance Tennessee guide.
How individual coverage works in Tennessee
If you do not get coverage from a job, Medicare or TennCare, you buy your own plan on the federal Marketplace. You can enroll directly on HealthCare.gov or through a licensed agent or assistant connected to it; the price of the same plan is the same either way.
Every Marketplace plan covers the ACA’s essential health benefits: doctor visits, hospital stays, emergency care, prescriptions, maternity, mental health and preventive care. Insurers cannot turn you down or charge more for a pre-existing condition. Plans come in Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers, and the right tier depends on how much care you expect to use.
Tennessee’s market is regional. A plan built around a Memphis hospital system may look nothing like one built around Knoxville or Nashville systems, and some carriers sell only in part of the state. Shopping for health insurance, Tennessee families get the best results when ZIP code, doctors and prescriptions drive the comparison rather than a brand name. Our overview of the health insurance Marketplace explains the basics.
2027 Open Enrollment dates in Tennessee
Because Tennessee uses HealthCare.gov, it follows the federal calendar. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027, and December 15 is the real deadline if you want coverage on New Year’s Day.
| If you enroll… | Your coverage starts |
|---|---|
| Nov 1 – Dec 15, 2026 | January 1, 2027 |
| Dec 16, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027 | February 1, 2027 |
| After Jan 15, 2027 | Only with a qualifying life event |
A federal court set aside a rule that would have ended Open Enrollment on December 15, so the January 15 window stands for this season. Still, treat December 15 as your target. Outside Open Enrollment, moving, losing job coverage, marriage or a new baby can open a Special Enrollment Period, generally for 60 days. Our Open Enrollment 2027 guide covers every date.
TennCare, CoverKids and the coverage gap
Tennessee is one of ten states that have not adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion. That means TennCare covers specific groups, not every low-income adult, and adults below the poverty line with no other eligibility can be left without an affordable option.
Who TennCare covers
According to TennCare’s eligibility page, adults who may qualify include pregnant women, parents or caretakers of a minor child who lives with them, people who need treatment for breast or cervical cancer, people who receive SSI, and certain people who need long-term care. You apply at TennCare Connect, and a Marketplace application will also send your information to TennCare if you look eligible.
CoverKids for children and pregnancy
CoverKids is Tennessee’s Children’s Health Insurance Program. Per the CoverKids eligibility page, it covers Tennessee children under 19 and pregnant women who are not eligible for TennCare and whose household income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. A pregnant woman needs no immigration documents, and CoverKids can cover a pregnancy even when another plan lacks maternity benefits.
The coverage gap
If you are an adult earning less than 100% of the poverty level ($15,960 for one person, $33,000 for a family of four) and you do not fit a TennCare group, you generally cannot get a Marketplace subsidy either. KFF estimates about 1.2 million adults sit in this gap across non-expansion states (KFF coverage gap brief). Community health centers with sliding fees are the main safety net; search HRSA’s Find a Health Center.
Honesty.AI checks your household and income and shows which door is yours.
Premium tax credits for Tennesseans in 2027
Most Tennesseans who buy their own coverage and earn between 100% and 400% of the poverty level qualify for a premium tax credit. The credit caps what you pay for the benchmark Silver plan at a share of your income, and you can apply it to any metal tier.
| Income (% of poverty level) | Your share of income for benchmark Silver (2027) |
|---|---|
| 100% – 133% | 2.15% |
| 133% – 150% | 3.23% – 4.30% |
| 150% – 200% | 4.30% – 6.78% |
| 200% – 250% | 6.78% – 8.66% |
| 250% – 300% | 8.66% – 10.22% |
| 300% – 400% | 10.22% |
| Over 400% | No credit for 2027 |
The enhanced credits of 2021–2025 expired on December 31, 2025, so the 400% cliff is back: $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four. The IRS explains the rules on its premium tax credit page, and our 2027 subsidies guide walks through examples.
Two details trip up many Tennessee households. First, if a job offers you coverage that costs less than 10.22% of household income for employee-only coverage in 2027, you generally cannot get the credit for yourself. Second, the credit is based on your estimated 2027 income and reconciled on the tax return you file in 2028. Self-employed workers, contractors and anyone with seasonal hours should estimate carefully and update HealthCare.gov when income changes, so the credit you take each month matches what you end up earning.
The bottom line on health insurance, Tennessee shoppers: do not auto-renew. Last year’s plan may cost more, lose your doctor or disappear, and a different plan at the same metal level may fit your budget better.
Tip: If your income is under 250% of the poverty level, compare Silver plans first. Only Silver carries cost-sharing reductions, which lower deductibles and copays. The 2027 out-of-pocket maximum on any plan is $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family.
Starting January 1, 2027, federal law also limits Marketplace savings for immigrants to green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and Compact of Free Association migrants. Other lawfully present immigrants can still buy a plan without the credit (HealthCare.gov).
Insurers filing 2027 plans in Tennessee, and Cigna’s exit
Several insurers filed 2027 individual-market rates in Tennessee, but which ones sell in your county depends on your ZIP code. Final county-level plan lists usually appear on HealthCare.gov in late October, so confirm availability before you pick.
A summary of the federal rate filings by ACA Signups (updated September 2026) lists 2027 individual filings from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare, Ambetter of Tennessee (Celtic Insurance Company, part of Centene) and Alliant Health Plans. The approved weighted average change was about 15.6%, in line with KFF’s proposed national median of 15%.
Cigna members: Cigna is leaving the individual market nationally after December 31, 2026 and will not offer Tennessee Marketplace plans for 2027. If you have a Cigna plan, choose a new plan during Open Enrollment so you do not have a gap on January 1.
We do not rank carriers. Networks change every year, so check that your doctors, hospital and prescriptions are covered by any plan you consider. Our guide to choosing a health plan explains HMO, EPO and PPO differences.
Memphis, Knoxville and the rest of Tennessee
Tennessee’s rules are statewide, but hospital networks, local clinics and in-person help differ by city. We have written local guides for the two Tennessee cities where people search most for coverage.
- Health insurance in Memphis: Shelby County, Regional One Health’s Level 1 trauma center, Christ Community Health Services, in-person Navigator help, and buying coverage in a metro that crosses into Mississippi and Arkansas.
- Health insurance in Knoxville: Knox County, UT Medical Center and Covenant Health networks, Cherokee Health Systems clinics, University of Tennessee students, and tourism workers in the nearby Smokies.
Nashville, Chattanooga, Clarksville and Murfreesboro residents use the same HealthCare.gov rules described above; only the plans and networks differ by county.
Free help and consumer protection in Tennessee
Tennessee’s federally funded Navigator for 2026–2027 is Family & Children’s Service, based in Nashville. According to the CMS Navigator awardee summary, it serves all 95 counties, with in-person and virtual help in ten: Cheatham, Davidson, Fayette, Robertson, Rutherford, Shelby, Sumner, Tipton, Williamson and Wilson. The other 85 counties get virtual help.
Search your ZIP code at localhelp.healthcare.gov to book a Navigator, certified application counselor or licensed agent near you.
If you have a problem with an insurer, contact TDCI’s Consumer Insurance Services at (615) 741-2218 or 1-800-342-4029, or use the TDCI consumer resources page to file a complaint. The department regulates insurers licensed in Tennessee and mediates insurance disputes.
How Honesty helps Tennessee shoppers
Honesty.AI is the world’s first patented, licensed AI insurance agent. It compares ACA, alternative and ancillary plans for your ZIP code, applies your subsidy, checks your doctors and prescriptions, and helps you enroll, 24/7 by chat, voice or text. It works for you, not the carriers.
Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC (NPN 21094885) is licensed in Tennessee and in 49 states plus DC. There is no local office to visit; help happens wherever you are. See how Honesty.AI works.
Find your 2027 Tennessee plan the honest way
Compare every Marketplace plan in your county, apply your subsidy and enroll in minutes. Honesty Is Your Best Policy®.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tennessee have its own health insurance exchange?
No. Tennessee uses the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov. You can enroll there directly or through a licensed agent or assistant connected to it, and the price of the same plan is the same either way.
When is Open Enrollment for 2027 health insurance in Tennessee?
Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Enrollments from December 16 through January 15 start February 1.
Did Tennessee expand Medicaid?
No. Tennessee has not adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion. TennCare covers specific groups such as pregnant women, parents or caretakers of minor children, and people receiving SSI. Adults below 100% of the poverty level who fit none of those groups can fall into the coverage gap.
What is CoverKids in Tennessee?
CoverKids is Tennessee’s Children’s Health Insurance Program. It covers children under 19 and pregnant women who are not eligible for TennCare and whose household income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.
Is Cigna still selling health insurance in Tennessee for 2027?
No. Cigna is leaving the individual market nationally after December 31, 2026, so it will not offer Tennessee Marketplace plans for 2027. Cigna members should choose a new plan during Open Enrollment to avoid a gap.
Keep learning: read our affordable health insurance Tennessee guide, the local guides for Memphis and Knoxville, the 2027 subsidy guide, and how a Special Enrollment Period works.
