• 29
  • September
    2010

In a precarious financial situation, any unplanned event, no matter how minor, can create a downward spiral resulting in increased debt, foreclosure, or even bankruptcy. TennCare, Tennessee's Medicaid managed care program, is working to help Tennessee residents avoid that devastating result by offering assistance in paying down medical debt.

Tennessee lawmakers recently enacted legislation calling for an expansion of the current Standard Spend Down program, which will provide state funds to low-income individuals with substantial medical bills. In addition to the household income requirements, applicants must also be 65 or older, blind, deaf, or the caretaker relative of a Medicaid eligible child, and must have sufficient unpaid medical bills to meet the Spend Down threshold.

Income requirements are determined by household size. In example, a household of two must have a monthly income below $258, while a household of four must be below $325.

Through the Tennessee Department of Human Services, TennCare has created a special telephone line for interested applicants. Starting at 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 4, residents should call the toll-free number to request an application. The telephone lines will be open on weeknights until 2,500 interested applicants have called in. At that time, lines will be closed, and the DHS will send applications to those 2,500. After the eligibility of the 2,500 is reviewed, the telephone lines will be reopened, with advance notice to the public. This will continue until 7,000 individuals have received assistance under the program.

According to DHS Commissioner Gina Lodge, the telephone line was set up in the interest of fairness. "The toll-free number system is the best way to ensure equal access to Tennessee citizens interested in the program," she said. "The only way to request an application for this program is through the toll-free number."

Spend Down was created in collaboration between TennCare, the Tennessee DHS, the Tennessee Hospital Association, and the federal government.

Source: TN.gov, "TennCare Announces The Opening of Standard Spend Down", 23 September 2010