--- title: Year-Round Options: Health Insurance You Can Apply for Any Day in Tennessee url: https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/enrollment-calendar/year-round-options description: TennCare and CoverKids accept applications year-round — no enrollment window in Tennessee. Who's eligible, how to apply, and what isn't year-round in TN. last_verified: 2026-10-17 publisher: TN Health Coverage Explained (independent; does not sell insurance) --- # Year-Round Options: Health Insurance You Can Apply for Any Day in Tennessee ## The short answer Two Tennessee programs take applications **every day of the year** — no window, no waiting for November: - **TennCare** (Tennessee's Medicaid program) - **CoverKids** (Tennessee's CHIP program) If you qualify, you can apply today. Right now. A Tuesday in March, a Saturday in August — it doesn't matter. Marketplace plans and Medicare do *not* work this way, and we'll say so plainly below so nobody gets the wrong idea. --- ## TennCare: who's eligible, how to apply **Who it covers:** - Low-income parents and caretakers of children, up to **100% of the federal poverty level (FPL)** - **Pregnant women** up to **250% FPL**, with coverage that continues through **12 months postpartum** - **Children** at higher income bands (if your child doesn't qualify for CoverKids, TennCare may still cover them) **What Tennessee hasn't done:** Tennessee has **not** expanded Medicaid. That means most childless adults don't qualify for TennCare at *any* income — this is the coverage gap. If that's you, a marketplace plan during open enrollment is usually the path to check. **How to apply:** online at **tenncareconnect.tn.gov**, by phone at **855-259-0701**, or **in person at your local health department**. --- ## CoverKids: who's eligible, how to apply **Who it covers:** - **Children under 19** who are Tennessee residents, in families earning up to **250% FPL** (that's $82,500 a year for a family of four) — and who aren't eligible for TennCare - **Pregnant women** up to **250% FPL** — no immigration documents required to apply **What it costs:** There is **no monthly premium**, and copays are low. **How to apply:** online at **tenncareconnect.tn.gov**, by phone at **855-259-0701**, or **in person at your local health department**. **When to pick which:** If your household income is low enough that you or your children might qualify for TennCare, apply for TennCare first — the application will route your child to the right program if they land on the CoverKids side instead. --- ## Now the honest part: what does NOT have year-round enrollment We don't want anyone reading this page and assuming they can buy a marketplace plan in March for no reason. They can't. **Marketplace plans (HealthCare.gov)** have enrollment windows: - **Open enrollment:** November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027 - Outside that window, you need a **special enrollment period** — a **60-day window** around a qualifying life event, like losing job-based coverage or aging off a parent's plan **Medicare** has its own fixed enrollment periods too: - **Initial Enrollment Period** (around your 65th birthday) - **Annual Enrollment:** October 15 – December 7 - **Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment:** January 1 – March 31 - **General Enrollment:** January 1 – March 31 Free, unbiased Medicare counseling is available from **TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044**. --- ## If you're reading this outside open enrollment: your decision tree 1. **Check TennCare and CoverKids first.** No window, no deadline. If anyone in your household qualifies — especially children or a pregnant woman — apply today at tenncareconnect.tn.gov or 855-259-0701. 2. **Did a life event just happen?** If you lost job-based coverage, aged off a parent's plan, moved, or had another qualifying life event, you may get a **60-day special enrollment period** for a marketplace plan. See [Special Enrollment Periods](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/enrollment-calendar/special-enrollment). 3. **Otherwise, mark November 1 on the calendar.** That's when marketplace open enrollment starts. In the meantime, free help is available: **GetCoveredTenn** navigators offer in-person assistance in Cheatham, Davidson, Fayette, Robertson, Rutherford, Shelby, Sumner, Tipton, Williamson, and Wilson counties, and phone or virtual help statewide at **1-866-475-7879**. --- ## Frequently asked questions **Can I apply for TennCare in the middle of the year, even when open enrollment isn't happening?** Yes. TennCare and CoverKids aren't tied to open enrollment at all — applications are accepted year-round. Open enrollment only governs marketplace plans. **What's the difference between TennCare and CoverKids?** TennCare is Tennessee's Medicaid program; it covers low-income parents and caretakers (up to 100% FPL), pregnant women (up to 250% FPL, with 12 months postpartum), and children at higher income bands. CoverKids is Tennessee's CHIP program; it covers children under 19 in families up to 250% FPL who aren't TennCare-eligible, plus pregnant women up to 250% FPL. Both use the same application — apply at tenncareconnect.tn.gov and your household gets routed to the right program. **I earn too much for TennCare. Can I get a marketplace plan right now?** Not for no reason, no. Outside open enrollment (November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027), you'd need a qualifying life event that opens a 60-day special enrollment period. Check TennCare/CoverKids first, then see [Special Enrollment Periods](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/enrollment-calendar/special-enrollment) to find out if your situation qualifies. **I'm 65 and just retired. Can I sign up for Medicare whenever I want?** Medicare has fixed enrollment periods — it isn't year-round either. Which period applies depends on your situation, so call **TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044** for free counseling before you make any decisions. **My kid is uninsured and I just lost my job. Where do I start?** Start with TennCare/CoverKids — no window, no waiting. Children qualify at higher income levels than adults, and job loss often changes eligibility in your favor. Apply at tenncareconnect.tn.gov or 855-259-0701, or walk into your local health department for in-person help. --- ## Sources - Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration, Division of TennCare — TennCare eligibility and CoverKids program information (tn.gov) - TennCare Connect — online application portal (tenncareconnect.tn.gov) - HealthCare.gov — marketplace open enrollment dates and special enrollment period rules - Medicare.gov — Medicare enrollment periods - Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program (TN SHIP) — 1-877-801-0044 - GetCoveredTenn — Navigator program county coverage and contact information --- **Your next step:** Check TennCare and CoverKids eligibility first — you can apply any day of the year. If nobody in your household qualifies and there's no recent life event, plan for marketplace open enrollment starting November 1: start with [2027 Open Enrollment](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/enrollment-calendar/open-enrollment), or get free help from a GetCoveredTenn navigator at 1-866-475-7879.