If you live in Nashville and buy your own health insurance, you shop on HealthCare.gov, and you can get help doing it. Tennessee does not run its own exchange, so private Marketplace plans and the premium tax credit come through HealthCare.gov whether you live in East Nashville, Antioch, Madison, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Lebanon, or Hendersonville.
This article is educational. Instant Health Help is a licensed health insurance agency, and our agent, Lobsang Rivas, is licensed in Tennessee. We are not HealthCare.gov, CMS, TennCare, or an insurance company. We do not quote prices or name plans here. Check the official dates on HealthCare.gov.
The short answer
- Open enrollment runs November 1 to January 15. Choose a plan by December 15 for coverage starting January 1.
- TennCare is separate. It has its own application at TennCareConnect.TN.gov or by phone at 855-259-0701.
- Your income estimate drives your savings. Get it as close as you can, then update it if things change.
For the full step by step walkthrough, read our Tennessee open enrollment guide. This post focuses on what we hear most from people in the Nashville area.
Who in Nashville usually needs help
Musicians, creatives, and gig workers. Session players, touring crew, rideshare drivers, and freelancers often have income that changes month to month. The Marketplace asks for your best estimate of next year’s household income. Use your recent tax return and this year’s numbers as a starting point.
Service and hospitality workers. Many jobs downtown and along Broadway do not offer health coverage, or offer it only to full time staff. If your job does not offer affordable coverage, the Marketplace may be your door.
Families moving to Middle Tennessee. If you just moved to Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, or Sumner County, a move can open a Special Enrollment Period outside open enrollment. Plans are sold by ZIP code, so compare using your new address.
People between jobs. Losing job coverage is also a qualifying life event. Do not wait until the next open enrollment if you just lost a plan.
Doctors and hospitals
If you want to keep a doctor at one of the big local hospitals or a clinic in your neighborhood, write their names down before you compare plans. Each plan has its own network, so confirm with the plan and the office before you enroll.
What to gather before November 1
- Names and birth dates for everyone on your tax return.
- Your household income estimate for next year.
- Your current HealthCare.gov login, if you have one.
- Your doctors and prescriptions.
How we help
We help Tennessee residents by phone and online, in English or Spanish. See our Tennessee health insurance help page. We go over who needs coverage, your ZIP code, your income estimate, your doctors, and your prescriptions, then walk through the HealthCare.gov application with you.
Ready when you are
Have your income estimate and your doctor list handy, and we will take it one step at a time.
Call (321) 315-0054 | agent@inshh.com
You may qualify after tax credits. Eligibility varies.
Featured photo: The Parthenon replica, Centennial Park, Nashville, Tennessee by Euthman, CC BY 4.0, cropped with text added.
