Tennessee

In 2011, women ages 50 to 59 were the largest age bracket among Tennessee’s female population, according to statistics from the state’s Department of Health. This age bracket usually sees active enrollment in long term care insurance. Around 11% of women in Tennessee reported having diabetes in 2011, while almost 38% of the female population was at risk of developing hypertension.

As for men, the individuals ages 50 to 59 numbered at 431,899 in 2012. Approximately 27% of males were habitual smokers, which can lead to health complications that necessitate long term care. Tennessee saw a 7% decrease in physical inactivity among men from 2011 to 2012. Diabetes affected 12% of male residents within this period.

The Tennessee Department of Health also shows that the state had 324 nursing facilities in 2011. However, the number of operational facilities decreased steadily within the past decade. More than 94,000 individuals sought skilled nursing facility care in 2011.

 

Cost of Care

Below are the average daily cost* of long term care services in Tennessee.

City Nursing Facility1 Assisted Living1 Adult Day Care2 Home Health Aide3
Chattanooga $239 $97 $79 $114
Clarksville $185 $113 N/A $120
Jackson $216 $106 N/A $108
Knoxville $222 $103 $54 $108
Memphis $204 $104 N/A $108
Nashville $217 $138 $53 $102

Notes:

*Costs are rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
1Daily average for a private room.
2Based on five days of care per week.
3Based on six hours of care per day, five days per week.

 

Insurance Options

Tennessee is one of the states where residents can buy TransCare III, Transamerica’s newer product for long term care insurance coverage. According to the insurer, TransCare III will usher the next generation of LTCI products. It has a higher daily benefit, extended waiting period, and additional riders that can be helpful to policyholders.

Insurance carriers with permission to market Partnership policies include American General Life, Genworth, John Hancock, MedAmerica, Northwestern, State Farm, and Transamerica.

 

State Long Term Care Programs

Long term care dependents in Tennessee can sustain home health care or skilled nursing care through the Medicare Part A plan. The state currently has 900,000 Medicare clients, and the number of enrollees increases steadily. Retired employees of the Tennessee state government, along with certified educational staff, can benefit from state Medicare supplement coverage called The Tennessee Plan.

Some states have alternative names for their Medicaid government program; people in Tennessee refer to the program as TennCare. Qualifications for TennCare include receiving TennCare-certified LTC services, adhering to income rules, and avoiding penalties for uncompensated transfer of assets. Tennessee intends to boost care quality for TennCare dependents through a measure called Quality Improvement in Long Term Services and Supports.

Low-income senior citizens or adults with disabilities can receive necessary home-based care through the CHOICES program under TennCare.

The LTC-TN program gives long term care insurance coverage to Tennessee residents who work in the government and educational institutions. LTC-TN also covers retirees, along with family members of enrollees as well. MedAmerica serves as the insurance carrier for this program.

 

More Resources

To get more specific information regarding long term care services and insurance options in Tennessee, please check the following websites:

Tennessee Health Care Association

Contains a care facility locator, list of resources, and a comprehensive guide to long term care.

Area Agency on Aging and Disability

Provides resources and information that covers a wide range of topics about aging and disability.

Tennessee Care Planning Council

Gives a list of LTC service providers with addresses and comes with caregiver help.

 

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