Tennessee Health Care Campaign

1. Increase the number of medically insured Tennesseans, especially among historically underserved populations. (from 9.5% in 2018 to 6% by the end of 2021)
2. Improve the value, quality, and equity of health care and health coverage for Tennesseans.
3. Increase transparency and accountability in the health care system.
4. Ensure an informed and directed health care policy agenda through authentic engagement of communities and individuals.
5. Build sustainability of THCC advocacy initiatives through diversified funding streams.

1. Mobilize and engage consumers, volunteers, and communities.
2. Policy analysis, education, and advocacy.
3. Design and implement strategic communications.
4. Build coalitions and strategic alliances with stakeholders.
5. Generate resources from diverse sources to sustain efforts.
6. Consumer assistance programs via statewide hotline.

Tennessee Health Care Campaign (THCC) was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1989 with a vision for all Tennesseans to have affordable, high quality, and equitable health care. Over the course of our 30-year history, we have led advocacy efforts to expand Medicaid to pregnant mothers and children, served as an ombudsman program to help TennCare applicants, and mobilized volunteers to support direct outreach and enrollment of uninsured Tennesseans.

In recent years, through our efforts with statewide volunteer networks, advocacy, and as part of the Get Covered Tenn Coalition, we have helped reduce Tennessee’s uninsured rate from nearly 14% in 2013 to a historic low of 9.5% currently. Because even this improvement threatens the health of thousands of Tennesseans as well as the viability of community hospitals, and other services, we are working to reduce Tennessee’s uninsured rate from 9.5% currently to 6% by the end of 2021.

THCC is a Certified Application Counselor Designated Organization (CDO) by the Center’s for Medicare and Medicaid Services. As such, we operate a volunteer program of Certified Application Counselors (CAC) across the state to provide direct outreach and assistance to uninsured Tennesseans.

Additionally, THCC operates a statewide 844-644-5443 hotline. This hotline receives calls from nearly all 95 counties. Roughly 85% of the calls are from TennCare eligible families. Approximately 50% of the calls are from middle Tennessee, 20% from greater Memphis area, 15% from Knoxville, and the remainder are disbursed throughout the state.

When federal funding for Navigator work was discontinued this year, THCC increased its volunteer efforts and an experienced enrollment professional who is widely known as a TennCare enrollment expert now coordinates THCC’s assistance to Tennesseans needing long term care, assistance with CHOICES applications. Comfortable with the appeals process and testifying when needed, he is leading a unique statewide volunteer effort to insure Tennesseans.

Our mission is not fulfilled. We have not won health coverage that is affordable for all Tennesseans.

We have helped enroll thousands of people in the ACA Marketplace. We know there are people alive who would not be if had not been for the ACA.

In an earlier time, we helped get the TennCare (Medicaid) program created and with national allies' other programs for the elderly, children, disabled and other groups. We have resisted cuts to programs. Even when we lost skirmishes, we did educational that made it possible to continue the fight.

We have increased insurance literacy through our work.
We have built a cadre of community leaders practical understanding to the subtleties of the insurance industry.
We have begun to build the next generation of health care reform leadership in Tennessee.

Our three-year plan is not complete and must be modified considering the changes in Washington. But the plan is not irrelevant.

Our biggest shortcoming is to not get the ear and of the Governor and hostile members of the legislature. We must be able to influence people who currently don't agree with us. That is our biggest learning curve.