Tennesee Helps Residents by Expanding Health Insurance Program

Due to the national economy being in poor health, Tennessee health officials are offering health insurance coverage for state residents that are currently working less hours or are out of jobs.

CoverTN, the state’s health insurance program, is currently offering residents who lost jobs within the past 6 months, and have worked at least 20 hour weeks since losing their job, health insurance plans. This is reported by the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

To be eligible for CoverTN health insurance, residents must have made no more than $43,000 a year while working at their most current job. The director of CoverTN, Stphani Ryan says, “We recognize the downturn in the economy and businesses looking at layoffs and having to close.”

Tennessee residents who qualify for this new expansion of CoverTN will pay two-thirds of the health plan premium. A non-smoker who is between 30 and 39 years old with a normal weight would pay $95 a month for the state-subsidized plan. Even though this could help many residents obtain affordable insurance, critics of the CoverTN program say the coverage is far too limited.

Major medical coverage does not seem to exist under this plan, as the cap for benefits is $25,000. A Tennessee Health Campaign representative, Tony Garr, asks, “If you were looking for insurance for your home, would you buy insurance that would only replace your bathroom if your home were demolished?