---
title: Free tools
url: https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/tools
description: Free, private tools for Tennesseans: estimate your 2027 premium tax credit, check if you can enroll now, screen for TennCare or CoverKids, and find your rating area.
last_verified: 2026-10-17
publisher: TN Health Coverage Explained (independent; does not sell insurance)
---

# Free tools

Four quick tools for the questions people ask most, plus a printable checklist. They run entirely in your browser. **Nothing you type is sent anywhere or saved.** No sign-up, no phone number, no sales call.

Each tool uses the same verified facts as the rest of the site, published as [open data](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/data). They give estimates and point you to the right official door. Only HealthCare.gov, TennCare, or Medicare can make an actual eligibility decision.

## The tools

- **[Premium tax credit estimator](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/tools/subsidy-estimator)** — Enter household size and estimated 2027 income. See your federal poverty level percentage, what you're expected to pay for a benchmark silver plan, whether you qualify for cost-sharing reductions, and how close you are to the 400% cliff.
- **[Can I enroll right now?](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/tools/enrollment-checker)** — Pick a date and your situation (lost coverage, moved, had a baby, turning 26, turning 65). See which enrollment windows are open, your deadline, and when coverage would start.
- **[TennCare & CoverKids screener](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/tools/tenncare-screener)** — Answer a few questions about your household. See which members may qualify for TennCare or CoverKids, and who should look at the marketplace instead.
- **[County & rating area lookup](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/tools/county-lookup)** — Pick your county. Get your rating area, your local guide, and whether free in-person Navigator help is available near you.
- **[Plan comparison checklist](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/tools/plan-comparison-checklist)** — Compare marketplace plans apples to apples: total yearly cost, networks, drugs, and the fine print.

## Why we built our own tools

HealthCare.gov's window shopping is the right place to see real prices, and we link to it everywhere. But it doesn't explain the 400% cliff, the Tennessee coverage gap, or when a special enrollment window closes. These tools fill that gap with the explanation built in.

## Frequently asked questions

**Do these tools store or share my information?**
No. Every calculation happens in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server, stored in a cookie, or shared with anyone.

**Are the results official?**
No. They are estimates based on published federal and Tennessee rules. HealthCare.gov decides marketplace eligibility and tax credits, TennCare decides TennCare and CoverKids eligibility, and Social Security handles Medicare enrollment.

**Can I use your data in my own tool or AI assistant?**
Yes. The facts behind these tools are published as JSON with sources at [Open data](https://www.tnhealthcoverageexplained.org/data). Please link back and check the last-verified date.

## Sources

- IRS Revenue Procedure 2026-26 — 2027 applicable percentage table
- HHS 2026 poverty guidelines — used for 2027 marketplace coverage
- HealthCare.gov — open enrollment and special enrollment rules
- TennCare Eligibility Reference Guide and tn.gov/coverkids — income limits
- CMS geographic rating areas and 2026–2027 Navigator awardee summaries