Governor makes TennCare cuts, kicks off 323,000
|
The lengthy process of notifying enrollees will begin as early as March and changes could begin taking effect as early as April.
That means the 10,814 Warren County residents with TennCare insurance have no choice but to wait and see whether their benefits are eliminated. Over 27 percent of the county’s 39,129 residents rely on TennCare.
“These are painful changes,” said Bredesen. “But this is the best, most responsible approach. Despite all the dire predictions, we still have a comprehensive, generous health care program for the poor.”
Bredesen was quick to tout the fact benefits will not be altered for 610,000 children with TennCare. Benefits for pregnant women will also remain untouched.
For others, the news wasn’t as promising, beginning with the 323,000 who will lose coverage completely. The 396,000 adults remaining on TennCare will see much greater restrictions in the number of doctor’s visits they can have in a year and the number of prescriptions they can have in a month.
Federal approval is first needed before TennCare changes can go into effect. If the changes are approved, Tennessee will lose its status as the top state in the nation for providing health insurance to its residents.
Currently Tennessee is in first place with 22.3 percent of its residents covered by TennCare. That’s a full 2 percent over second-place Mississippi (20.3 percent). When the overhaul is complete, Tennessee will fall to seventh place with 17.3 percent of its residents covered by state insurance.
“We’re going to have to learn to live with being No. 7 instead of being No. 1,” said Bredesen. “I think we’re still in a very strong position.”
Even with all the cuts, Tennessee taxpayers are still projected to pay $75 million more for TennCare for the next fiscal year than this year.