---
title: South-central Middle Tennessee (Rating Area 8)
url: https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/rating-area-8
description: Rating Area 8 covers 16 south-central TN counties around Columbia and Tullahoma. How rating areas work, the five 2027 insurers, and free enrollment help.
last_verified: 2026-10-17
publisher: TN Health Coverage Explained (independent; does not sell insurance)
---

# South-central Middle Tennessee (Rating Area 8)

**Above the fold:** Your county decides your rating area, and your rating area decides which plans and prices you see on HealthCare.gov. Rating Area 8 covers **16 counties across south-central Middle Tennessee** — a mix of growing exurban counties on the fringe of Nashville and rural southern counties. Insurers file their 2027 plans and prices separately for each rating area, so this region's lineup is its own market.

> ⚠️ **Availability warning:** Five insurers are approved to sell 2027 marketplace plans somewhere in Tennessee (BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Celtic/Ambetter, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare, Alliant), but the **per-area 2027 carrier lineup is still being confirmed** via HealthCare.gov window shopping. Do not assume which insurers are selling in your county this year — window-shop your ZIP code before enrolling. This page will be updated when the lineup is confirmed.

## Counties covered

Rating Area 8 includes Bedford, Coffee, Dickson, Giles, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Perry, Stewart, and Wayne counties.

See the full 95-county index: [Tennessee Counties & Rating Areas](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/counties#rating-area-8)

## Population centers and market dynamics

**Population centers: Columbia (Maury County) and Tullahoma (Coffee County)** — the largest cities in the rating area.

*The following describes general market dynamics in this part of Tennessee, not carrier assignments for 2027:*

- **Exurban growth meets rural south.** The northern counties here sit in Nashville's orbit and are growing fast; the southern tier is rural. Insurer interest usually follows that pattern — more options where the population is growing, thinner lineups in the rural south.
- **The rural dynamic applies in the southern counties.** Where only one or two insurers sell, the network question dominates: verify your doctors, hospital, and regular prescriptions are in-network before enrolling.
- **Newcomers, take note.** If you moved to a growing county like Maury or Coffee from out of state, your new county means a new rating area — the plans and prices you see will differ from where you came from, and moving triggers a special enrollment period.

## Local enrollment help

- **GetCoveredTenn** (Navigator program): **1-866-475-7879**. No in-person sites in Rating Area 8 — all 16 counties are served by **phone and virtual help only**.
- **HealthCare.gov**: 1-800-318-2596.

Navigator help is free, and nobody is paid on commission.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which insurers sell 2027 plans in Rating Area 8?

Statewide, five insurers are approved to sell 2027 marketplace plans in Tennessee: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Celtic/Ambetter, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare, and Alliant. The per-area lineup — who's actually selling in *your* county — is still being confirmed via HealthCare.gov window shopping. Enter your ZIP code on HealthCare.gov to see exactly what's available to you; this page will be updated when the lineup is confirmed.

### Do prices here differ from the Nashville area?

They can. Insurers file prices per rating area, so a plan's price in this area doesn't have to match the same insurer's price in the Nashville rating area next door. The differences reflect each area's provider costs and insurer mix.

### I'm moving within Tennessee — what changes?

A move across county lines can put you in a different rating area, which changes the plans and prices available to you. Moving triggers a special enrollment period: report the move to HealthCare.gov and shop your new ZIP code. If you're moving into or out of the Nashville area, expect the lineup — and possibly the price — to change.

### Is there in-person enrollment help anywhere near here?

Not inside Rating Area 8 — all 16 counties are phone/virtual only through GetCoveredTenn at **1-866-475-7879**. If you live near the boundary with a county that has an in-person site (for example, in the Nashville metro), ask the Navigator line whether a nearby site can see you.

### When can I enroll for 2027?

Open enrollment runs **November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027**. Enroll by **December 15, 2026** for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Outside open enrollment, you can only enroll if you qualify for a special enrollment period (job loss, move, marriage, birth of a child, and similar life events).

## Sources

- CMS Geographic Rating Areas documentation
- Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (2027 marketplace insurer filings)
- CMS Navigator award summaries (GetCoveredTenn)

## Keep reading

- [Health Insurance by Region](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/regions) — Tennessee's regions explained
- [Tennessee Counties & Rating Areas](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/counties) — the full 95-county index
- [The Marketplace](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/marketplace) — how the federal marketplace works in Tennessee
- [The Tennessee Enrollment Calendar](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/enrollment-calendar) — key dates and deadlines
- [Buying Health Insurance in Rural Tennessee](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/rural-tennessee) — insurance guidance for rural Tennessee