Health Care
Health Care Services: Programs in the community that provide evaluations and treatment of people who have illnesses or disabilities.
Health Insurance Information: Programs that assist with obtaining health insurance such as TennCare, Medicare and/or Medicaid.
To locate Health Care Services or Health Insurance Information in your community, click here to search the Pathfinder database. On the database search page, select your county and "Health Care Services" or "Health Insurance Information" then click on "Search."
Federal Health Insurance Program Information
Health Care and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA is a federal law. It requires that people with disabilities have equal access to public and private health care provided. It also requires that the care be provided in the most integrated setting appropriate. The United States Justice Department enforces that the law be followed by 9-1-1 systems, dentists, doctors, hospitals, hearing interpreters, and state long-term care programs. For information and help on Health Care and ADA in Tennessee, contact the Tennessee ADA Leadership Network.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
HIPAA protects health insurance coverage for workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs. HIPAA also establishes national standards for electonic health care transactions and national identifiers for providers, health plans, and employers. It also addresses the security and privacy of health data.
Medicare
Medicare is a health insurance program for:
Medicare has:
For information about Medicare, contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048) or the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)
QMB provides Medicaid coverage of Medicare covered services by paying the Medicare premium, coinsurance and deductibles of eligible individuals. The individual must be eligible for Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and meet income and resource standards. For information about and access to QMB, contact your local Department of Human Services (DHS) office.
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)
SLMB pays Part B premium only for individuals whose income is equal or less than 120% poverty level and meet a resource test. For information about and access to QMB, contact your local Department of Human Services (DHS) office.
Social Security Disability (SSI & SSDI)
While SSI & SSDI are not health insurance, persons receiving these benefits may be eligible for Medicare or Medicaid. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are "insured," meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pays benefits based on financial need.
Insurance and Developmental Disabilities, from the Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities
Kaiser Family Foundation
The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit, private foundation focusing on major health care issues. The Foundation has an abundance of information for both professionals and the general public. In March 2005, they released basic introductory guides for Medicare and Medicaid. These guides are available online in both PDF and HTML formats.