Press Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 26, 2007	CONTACT:	EMILY RICHARD 615.253.5643 (OFFICE) 615.289.9851 (CELL)

ACCESSTN EXTENDING ENROLLMENT PROVISION AND STREAMLINING APPLICATION PROCESS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — AccessTN, the component of Governor Phil Bredesen’s Cover Tennessee initiative that provides comprehensive health insurance options for uninsurable Tennesseans, recently announced plans to extend special enrollment provisions for TennCare disenrollees and to assist in streamlining the application process for qualified Tennesseans. On April 19 during its bimonthly meeting in Nashville, the board took these and other actions. AccessTN currently has 1,404 enrolled in the program. More than three quarters of the enrollees have qualified for premium assistance which averages more than $400 a month. “While the vast majority of Tenneseans will never need AccessTN, it will help countless Tennesseans with serious health conditions who have been denied coverage from commercial insurance companies,” said Finance and Administration Commissioner Dave Goetz. In other actions during the April 19th meeting, the board approved amending the contract with the plan administrator, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, to provide potential enrollees’ with expanded application assistance. The board also authorized the program to evaluate options to expand funding for premium assistance. AccessTN, a high-risk pool, was created for persons with one of 55 specified medical conditions, or those who are unable to get insurance in the commercial market because of their health status. Call 1-866-COVERTN for an application, more information or for help completing the application. In addition to AccessTN, Governor Bredesen’s multi-pronged effort, Cover Tennessee, offers new health insurance options to uninsured individuals in Tennessee. CoverTN is an affordable and portable health insurance initiative for uninsured small businesses. Comprehensive insurance for children is provided through CoverKids and CoverRx provides pharmacy assistance to those without prescription drug coverage. The Cover Tennessee initiative also targets the growing prevalence of diabetes through ProjectDiabetes and focuses on improved lifestyle choices through GetFitTN. The programs were overwhelmingly endorsed by the General Assembly in 2006. More information on all Cover Tennessee programs is available at www.CoverTN.gov or by calling 1-866-COVERTN.
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