How to renew your Tennessee Medicaid coverage

Last verified: June 2026

Renewal notices come from TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid)

Always respond to official renewal notices from TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid). Missing a renewal deadline is the most common reason people lose Medicaid coverage — even when they're still eligible.

TennCare renews annually — respond to your renewal notice to avoid losing coverage

TennCare sends annual renewal (redetermination) notices through TennCare Connect (tenncareconnect.tn.gov) and by mail. Members who miss their renewal notice or do not respond by the deadline will have coverage terminated. Log in at tenncareconnect.tn.gov or call 1-855-259-0701 to check your renewal date and status.

How TennCare renews your coverage

TennCare redetermines eligibility once per year. Like other states, Tennessee first attempts an ex parte renewal — using electronic data from SSA, the IRS, Tennessee's state wage database, and other sources to confirm eligibility without requiring member action. If ex parte is successful, TennCare renews coverage automatically and notifies the member.

When electronic data does not confirm eligibility, TennCare sends a renewal packet through TennCare Connect and by mail. Members must respond within the stated deadline. Failure to respond results in coverage termination. Members can reapply at any time through TennCare Connect, by phone, or at a local DHS office.

How to complete your TennCare renewal

1

Log in to TennCare Connect and check your account

Visit tenncareconnect.tn.gov and check your profile for renewal notices and action items. TennCare also sends renewal notices to the address and email on file. You can also download the TennCare Connect mobile app.
2

Review and update your information

Confirm your current address, income, household size, and eligibility category. If your circumstances have changed — new job, marriage, new child — update your information and provide the appropriate documentation.
3

Provide documentation if requested

TennCare may request pay stubs, a letter from your employer, Social Security documents, or proof of Tennessee residency. Upload documents directly in TennCare Connect or bring them to a DHS office.
4

Submit your renewal by the deadline

Complete renewal online through TennCare Connect, by calling 1-855-259-0701, or in person at a local DHS office. DHS has offices in all 95 Tennessee counties; call 1-866-311-4287 to locate your nearest office.
5

Confirm your renewal outcome

TennCare will notify you of its decision. Check TennCare Connect after submitting — the application tracking feature shows four stages: Received, In Review, Decision, and Enrolled/Not Enrolled.

Documents you may need for TennCare renewal

Recent pay stubs (one or two months) or employer letter
Self-employment income records or tax return
Social Security, SSI, or SSDI award letter
Proof of Tennessee residency (utility bill, lease, or government mail)
Updated household size and income information
Documentation of any recent changes (new child, change in employment status)

If your TennCare coverage was terminated

If TennCare terminates your coverage and you believe you are still eligible, you have the right to request a fair hearing within 30 days of the notice. If you request a hearing before the termination date, TennCare may continue your coverage while the hearing is pending.

To request a hearing, contact the Bureau of TennCare through TennCare Connect or call 1-855-259-0701. Free legal assistance for TennCare appeals may be available through Tennessee Justice Center at (615) 255-0331, which has a strong track record representing TennCare members in coverage disputes.

Report changes in your eligibility category during the year

TennCare's non-expansion structure means that changes in household composition or income can significantly affect eligibility. If you gain a dependent child, become pregnant, or receive SSI, notify TennCare Connect promptly — these changes may open or close eligibility for different coverage groups.

Post-pandemic coverage losses: the 2023–2024 unwinding

During the COVID-19 public health emergency (March 2020 through March 2023), federal law prohibited states from removing people from Medicaid. When that protection ended, states conducted a mass redetermination of all enrolled members — known as the "unwinding." Millions of people lost coverage nationally between April 2023 and late 2024, many due to administrative reasons like outdated addresses rather than actual ineligibility. If you lost Tennessee Medicaid during that period without receiving a renewal notice, you may still be eligible. Contact TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid) to reapply.

How to complete your renewal

When TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid) sends a renewal notice, here's what to do:

1

Read the notice carefully

Identify exactly what the agency is asking for and the deadline to respond. Renewal packets may ask you to confirm your current income, household size, or address.
2

Update your information

If anything has changed — income, address, phone number, household members — report it now. Outdated contact information is the leading cause of missed renewal notices.
3

Submit the renewal online, by phone, or by mail

TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid)'s online portal is typically the fastest way to complete a renewal. You may also call the enrollment line or mail in your completed packet.
4

Confirm your coverage continued

After submitting, confirm you receive a notice that coverage was renewed. If you don't hear back within a few weeks, call TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid) to verify your status.

If your renewal is denied

A denial must state the reason in writing and explain your right to appeal. You have 90 days from the date of the notice to request a fair hearing. File the appeal quickly — if you appeal before your coverage ends, you may be able to continue coverage during the appeal period, though this depends on timing and the reason for denial.

Common renewal denials include: income that increased above the threshold, failure to respond to the renewal packet, a change in household size that affects eligibility, or immigration status questions. Some of these can be addressed by reapplying with updated information rather than appealing.

Contact TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid) within the 90-day window. A reconsideration or new application filed promptly can often restore coverage retroactively to the date it was lost.

Keeping your account information up to date

The most effective way to avoid renewal problems is to report changes promptly. Federal rules require Medicaid enrollees to report changes that may affect eligibility within a specified period — typically 10 to 30 days depending on the state.

Changes to report: new job or income change, move to a new address, change in household size (new baby, someone moves in or out), gaining or losing other health coverage. Contact TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid) or update your information through the online portal at https://www.tn.gov/tenncare.