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Rep. Jim Hackworth - House District 33
IMMEDIATE RELEASE February
21, 2007
Rep. Hackworth Urges
Eligible Residents
to Register for AccessTN
Insurance Plan
Enrollment Begins Mar. 1 for
Uninsurable Medical Patients
NASHVILLE (Feb. 21) –
Rep. Jim Hackworth, D-Clinton, urges eligible residents of
Anderson County to enroll in the new AccessTN health insurance program
for patients with pre-existing conditions. Applications for a limited
number of spaces are now available, said Hackworth.
“AccessTN is the state’s
new insurance plan for Tennesseans who are uninsurable because of
chronic medical conditions. No one is turned away simply because
of health problems, provided eligibility criteria are met. Plus,
there are no income limits or asset tests for enrollees,” explained
Hackworth.
Enrollment begins Mar. 1
for the program. Persons who are uninsurable and recently lost
their TennCare coverage receive priority in the application process.
For the first 60 days of the program, the state has set aside 4,500
slots in AccessTN for former TennCare enrollees out of a total of 6,000
slots available.
Information and
applications are available by calling 1-866-636-0080 or by visiting
www.AccessTN.gov.
The state considers
residents uninsurable if they meet one of the following conditions:
- A doctor’s statement that
the applicant has one of 55 specified medical conditions;
- Denial by two different
insurance carriers for individual coverage because of a
health-related condition;
- Qualification through an
AccessTN contracted underwriting process.
Enrollees must also meet
these basic eligibility criteria:
- US citizen or qualified
legal alien;
- Tennessee resident for a
minimum of six months;
- Age 19 or older;
- Without health insurance
for at least six months;
- No access to insurance at
the time of application; and,
- Exhausted continuation
coverage, including COBRA.
Participants are
responsible for paying monthly premiums for comprehensive coverage.
These premiums are capped at no more than two times the standard market
rate for similar commercial health insurance plans. These premiums
can vary depending on age, weight and tobacco use. Total premiums
range from $273 to $1,156.
“Tennessee has set aside
$13 million in the first year to help low-income participants cover the
cost of premiums. Enrollees can apply for premium assistance when
they apply for AccessTN coverage,” said Hackworth.
Rep. Hackworth’s
legislative telephone number is 615-741-4400 or email
rep.jim.hackworth@legislature.state.tn.us.
CONTACT:
Kenneth Townsend, Press Secretary, House Democratic Caucus,
at 615-741-6620 or
kenneth.townsend@legislature.state.tn.us
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