Medicare by State
Free Medicare Help Tennessee: TN SHIP Counseling and TennCare Savings
TN SHIP counselors at 1-877-801-0044 give free, confidential Medicare help and don’t promote any insurance agency. TennCare’s Medicare Savings Programs can pay the $202.90 Part B premium for one person with income up to $1,796 a month and resources under $9,950.
- TN SHIP is run by the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging; call 1-877-801-0044 or email dda.ship@tn.gov.
- TennCare’s February 2026 guide lists monthly limits of $1,330 for QMB, $1,596 for SLMB and $1,796 for QI 1 for one person.
- The resource limit for all three programs is $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for two.
- Apply through TennCare Connect at 855-259-0701, and report Medicare fraud to Tennessee SMP at 1-866-836-7677.
Table of Contents
Free Medicare help Tennessee residents can use comes from two state agencies. The Department of Disability and Aging runs TN SHIP, a free counseling program delivered through local senior centers and aging offices, and TennCare runs the Medicare Savings Programs that can pay your Part B premium. This guide explains how to reach a counselor, TennCare’s 2026 income and resource limits, what each program pays, how to apply through TennCare Connect, and how to report fraud, with a worked example of the savings.
Free Medicare help Tennessee offers: the programs at a glance
| Program | Run by | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| TN SHIP | Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging | Free, unbiased, confidential Medicare counseling |
| Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI 1) | TennCare | Pay the Part B premium; QMB also pays deductibles and coinsurance |
| Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy) | Social Security and Medicare | Lowers drug plan costs |
| Tennessee Senior Medicare Patrol | Administered by UCDD through the nine Area Agencies on Aging and Disability | Helps you prevent and report Medicare fraud |
TennCare files these programs under a “Medicare Cost Sharing” category in its Eligibility Reference Guide. If a letter mentions Medicare cost sharing, it is talking about the TennCare Medicare Savings Program.
TN SHIP: free Medicare counseling in Tennessee
The Department of Disability and Aging’s TN SHIP page calls the program a federally funded service that provides free, unbiased counseling to Tennesseans eligible for Medicare, their families and caregivers. It says plainly that TN SHIP does not promote any insurance agency and that counselors keep all client information confidential.
Ways TN SHIP can help, drawing on the program page:
- Answering Medicare questions, whether you are new to Medicare or have had it for years.
- Getting ready for Open Enrollment, which runs October 15 to December 7, and pointing you to a drug plan comparison.
- Screening for TennCare’s Medicare Savings Programs.
- Applying for Extra Help. The TN SHIP page says counselors can help you apply if your income is below 150% of the federal poverty level.
Every fall, the program holds pre-Open Enrollment presentations county by county, posted on separate East, Middle and West TN SHIP event pages. The program also recruits volunteers and trains them statewide, so many counselors are your neighbors.
How to reach a TN SHIP counselor near you
Call 1-877-801-0044 or email dda.ship@tn.gov. The national SHIP Technical Assistance Center lists the same number and a TTY line, 1-800-848-0299.
TN SHIP also lists Medicare counseling sites across the state, mostly senior centers and county offices on aging. Examples include:
- West: Aging Commission of the Mid-South in Memphis; Dyer County Office on Aging in Dyersburg; Henry County Office on Aging in Paris.
- Middle: Bedford County Senior Center in Shelbyville; Maury County Senior Center in Columbia; Putnam County Senior Center in Cookeville.
- East: Knox County CAC Office on Aging in Knoxville; Blount County Office on Aging in Maryville; the Southeast TN AAAD office in Chattanooga.
To get the most from a visit, bring your Medicare card and any other insurance cards, a list of your drugs with doses, the names of your doctors and pharmacy, any plan letters you don’t understand, and your monthly income before deductions if you want to be screened for cost help.
Call ahead, since most sites work by appointment. If you can’t find a site nearby, the statewide line will route you to free Medicare help Tennessee counselors give in your area.
2026 Medicare Savings Program Tennessee income and resource limits
TennCare’s Eligibility Reference Guide, dated February 2026, sets each level as a share of the federal poverty level, and its income chart turns that into dollars:
| Level | Income test | One person, per month | Two people, per month | Resource limit (1 / 2 people) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) | Up to 100% of poverty | $1,330 | $1,804 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) | 100% to under 120% | $1,596 | $2,164 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
| QI 1 (Qualified Individual) | 120% to under 135% | $1,796 | $2,435 | $9,950 / $14,910 |
Tennessee keeps an asset test. The $9,950 and $14,910 resource limits are much higher than the $2,000 limit TennCare uses for several full Medicaid groups in the same guide, so savings that would block full TennCare may still fit the Medicare Savings Program Tennessee offers.
Figures are from TennCare’s Eligibility Reference Guide (February 2026) and are shown for illustration only. They are not quotes or offers, and they can change. Confirm current numbers with TennCare or a licensed agent.
What each level pays, and how Extra Help fits in
According to the TennCare guide:
- QMB: TennCare pays Medicare premiums, deductibles and coinsurance.
- SLMB: TennCare pays the Part B premium only.
- QI 1: TennCare pays the Part B premium only, and you can’t be in another Medicaid category at the same time.
- QDWI: for people under 65 who lost premium-free Part A by returning to work, TennCare buys Part A. The income limit is 200% of poverty, with a $4,000 resource limit for one person.
Medicare.gov says you get Extra Help automatically with full Medicaid, a Medicare Savings Program or SSI. If your income is above QI 1, apply through Social Security. Medicare.gov lists 2026 limits of $23,940 in income and $18,090 in resources for one person, or $32,460 and $36,100 for a couple. For 2027, copays run up to $5.80 for generics and $14.40 for brand-name drugs. See our Medicare Extra Help guide and Medicare Part D guide.
Hypothetical example: what free Medicare help Tennessee offers is worth
Hypothetical example. Two neighbors in Knoxville each live alone with Original Medicare, have savings under $9,950, and live only on Social Security. We use the 2026 Part B premium of $202.90 a month and $283 deductible from the CMS fact sheet. We chose incomes that land in the same band whether or not TennCare applies any income disregard.
Edna gets $1,310 a month, under the $1,330 QMB limit.
- Part B premium paid: $202.90 a month, or $202.90 × 12 = $2,434.80 a year.
- Part B deductible covered: $283.
- Total: $2,434.80 + $283 = $2,717.80 a year, plus Medicare coinsurance.
Frank gets $1,780 a month, above the $1,596 SLMB limit but under the $1,796 QI 1 limit. QI 1 pays his premium: $202.90 a month, or $2,434.80 a year.
Both would get Extra Help automatically. This is an illustration, not an eligibility decision; only TennCare can decide.
How to apply, and how to report fraud
The TennCare guide points applicants to its How Do I Apply for TennCare? page and to TennCare Connect at 855-259-0701. TennCare Connect is also the state’s online portal, at tenncareconnect.tn.gov. A counselor can sit with you while you apply, which is often the most practical free Medicare help Tennessee offers.
You can apply for the TennCare Medicare Savings Program at any time of year; you don’t need to wait for Open Enrollment. Before you start, gather your Social Security award letter, pension statements, bank statements and your Medicare card. Answer any request from TennCare quickly and keep copies of what you send.
Reporting fraud. The Tennessee Senior Medicare Patrol, administered by UCDD and run through the state’s nine Area Agencies on Aging and Disability, helps people identify and prevent Medicare and Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse. Its statewide line is 1-866-836-7677, the same number listed by the national SMP locator. Medicare.gov also takes reports at 1-800-MEDICARE.
State counselor or a licensed agent? Here is a fair comparison:
| Question | TN SHIP | Licensed agent (such as Octans) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to you | Free | No fee to you |
| Who pays them | Federal SHIP funding through the state | Insurers pay commission |
| Promotes a company | No | Quotes carriers it represents |
| Help applying for TennCare cost help | A core service | Can explain and refer |
| Life or final expense insurance | Outside its scope | Yes |
Many people use the state program to screen for the Medicare Savings Program Tennessee offers, then an agent for plan quotes. If the two disagree, ask why. See how we get paid and our guide to working with an insurance agent.
Checklist: using free Medicare help Tennessee provides
- Call TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044 or book at a local counseling site.
- Compare your monthly income with $1,330, $1,596 and $1,796 for one person.
- Check savings against $9,950 for one person or $14,910 for two.
- Apply through TennCare Connect or by calling 855-259-0701.
- If your income is too high, apply for Extra Help through Social Security.
- Check your enrollment windows with our Medicare enrollment calculator; if your income is high, try the IRMAA calculator.
- Report suspicious bills to Tennessee SMP at 1-866-836-7677.
Free Medicare help Tennessee: frequently asked questions
What is the TN SHIP phone number?
1-877-801-0044, or email dda.ship@tn.gov. The national SHIP directory lists TTY 1-800-848-0299.
Is TN SHIP really free and unbiased?
Yes. The Department of Disability and Aging says TN SHIP is free, doesn’t promote any insurance agency, and keeps client information confidential.
What is the QMB income limit in Tennessee?
Up to 100% of the poverty level: $1,330 a month for one person and $1,804 for two, per TennCare’s February 2026 guide.
Does Tennessee have an asset limit for the Medicare Savings Programs?
Yes: $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for two for QMB, SLMB and QI 1.
Can I have QI 1 and full TennCare at the same time?
No. TennCare’s guide says QI 1 enrollees can’t be eligible for another Medicaid category at the same time.
Who handles Medicare fraud reports in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-866-836-7677, or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Talk with a licensed agent after you get free help
Octans Insurance is an independent agency based in Massachusetts. Our licensed agents compare plans from 120+ carriers, at no fee to you, and we’re glad to work alongside your SHIP counselor. Call (617) 935-9220. For free, unbiased counseling, call TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044 or 1-800-MEDICARE. Planning for family too? See our Tennessee life insurance guide.
Keep Reading: Related Guides
- Life insurance in Tennessee
- Medicare Extra Help
- Medicare IRMAA calculator
- Medicare enrollment calculator
- Tennessee Medicaid burial rules
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
This article is for general information and is not tax, legal, or medical advice.
About examples and tools: Hypothetical examples, sample rates, calculators and quizzes on this site are for general educational and illustrative purposes only. They are not quotes, offers of coverage, or guarantees of eligibility, approval, price or benefits, and they are not legal, tax, financial or medical advice. The insurance company decides eligibility and price; Medicare rules are set by CMS and the Social Security Administration. Octans Insurance is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
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