Tennessee Medicaid work requirement
TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid)
Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA. The federal work rule mainly applies to adults in the Medicaid expansion group, so most Medicaid members in Tennessee are likely not affected. Some special programs may be. Check the details below and ask your state Medicaid office.
Go to TennCare Member Services
- Start date
- January 1, 2027
- Last checked
- September 2026
Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid. CMS listed certain TennCare III parents/caretakers above the State Plan income limit up to 100% FPL as potentially subject to §71119. This is not a statewide expansion rule.
This requirement applies to a very limited TennCare III §1115 caretaker population only — not to all TennCare members. Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid.
Who it applies to
A limited subset of TennCare members — specifically parents and caretakers covered under the TennCare III §1115 waiver above the State Plan income level up to 100% FPL — may be subject to the community-engagement requirement. Many caregivers of children age 13 or younger qualify for an exemption. The vast majority of standard TennCare enrollees are not in an applicable expansion adult group. Contact TennCare (1-800-342-3145) to confirm whether this applies to your specific coverage category.
What counts toward 80 hours
- Work 80+ hours/month (paid or unpaid, including self-employment or work for goods/services)
- Community service / volunteering at a public or non-profit organization — 80+ hours/month
- Participation in an approved job training or workforce program — 80+ hours/month
- Enrollment in an educational program at least half-time (high school, GED, community college, vocational, or four-year college)
- Any combination of the above totaling 80+ hours/month
- Income ≥ $580/month (federal minimum wage × 80 hours) — regardless of hours tracked; seasonal workers may average $580/month over the prior 6 months
Who may be exempt
- Pregnant or less than 12 months postpartum (regardless of pregnancy outcome)
- Primary caregiver of a child 13 years old or younger
- Primary caregiver of a disabled individual
- Medically frail or living with a disability that significantly limits ability to work
- American Indian / Alaska Native (AI/AN)
- Former foster youth who aged out of foster care
- Veteran with total disability rating (VA)
- Household receiving TANF where work rules already apply
- Household receiving SNAP where SNAP work rules already apply
- Enrolled in or recently completed a substance use disorder (SUD) treatment program
- Currently incarcerated or released from incarceration within the prior 3 months
How Tennessee checks
TennCare has not published a dedicated member community-engagement requirements page as of last review. Contact TennCare directly for verification procedures if you believe you may be in the affected §1115 caretaker population.
What you can do now
- Contact TennCare (1-800-342-3145) or visit tn.gov/tenncare to confirm whether your specific coverage category is affected
- Keep your contact information current with TennCare so renewal notices reach you
- If you are in the TennCare III §1115 caretaker population above State Plan income limits, begin tracking work/community hours now
- Monitor tn.gov/tenncare for implementation guidance as it is published
Sources and links for Tennessee
Sources: CMS IFC CMS-2454-IFC §1115 applicability analysis; TennCare III waiver scope. No dedicated TennCare member CE implementation page found as of September 2026 review.
Last checked September 2026.
Log80 helps you keep organized proof.
Log your hours and make a monthly report you can share with your state Medicaid office. Free.
Log80 is not a government service and is not Medicaid. This page is not legal advice. Your state Medicaid office decides who must meet the rule and what proof it accepts.