The Tennessee Plan
(State, higher education, local education and local government retirees)
The state offers The Tennessee Plan (Supplemental Medical Insurance for Retirees with Medicare) to eligible retired state, local education and local government employees and their eligible spouses and dependent children through UMR. Please visit umr.com/thetennesseeplaninfo for plan details.
UMR
888.477.9307
Monday - Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CT
umr.com/thetennesseeplaninfo
Those with Medicare coverage will likely need The Tennessee Plan to help cover some of the medical expenses not fully paid by Medicare.
Any retired state employee or local education certified teaching staff member hired by their qualifying employer prior to July 1, 2015, and receiving a monthly retirement allowance from the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System or higher education optional retirement plan who is eligible for Medicare Part A may apply for coverage under The Tennessee Plan.
Retired local education support staff members and local government participants hired by their qualifying employer prior to July 1, 2015, and eligible for Medicare Part A who receive a monthly retirement allowance from TCRS are also eligible to apply for coverage.
Retirees may also apply to cover eligible dependents. Individuals who qualify and enroll for coverage within 60 days of their initial eligibility cannot be denied coverage because of age or health.
The Tennessee Plan offers quality coverage at low group premium rates. Since the premiums are not based on age, they will not increase just because the member gets older. Best of all, if a retiree has more than 15 years of service as a state employee or teacher, the state will pay part of the monthly premium.
See the Premiums webpage to determine the monthly cost for this coverage.
Please refer to The Tennessee Plan brochure or member handbook on the Publications webpage for additional information.
A spouse of a retiree can be enrolled in The Tennessee Plan only if the retiree is also enrolled in the Tennessee Plan. If the retiree is not eligible for The Tennessee Plan at the time of retirement, or at the time the spouse becomes Medicare-eligible in the future, the spouse may not enroll in The Tennessee Plan.
Once the retiree is eligible for The Tennessee Plan, the retiree may apply to include the spouse on The Tennessee Plan if the retiree also elects the coverage. The spouse may be enrolled either when the retiree becomes Medicare eligible and enrolls in The Tennessee Plan, or the spouse may be added effective Jan. 1 of the year following the retiree's initial eligibility and enrollment without going through the late applicant process. After Jan. 1 of the year following the retiree's initial eligibility, the spouse would have to apply as a late applicant, including a medical underwriting process, to be enrolled in coverage, if approved.
The Tennessee Plan will not pay benefits if the member is also enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Prescription Drugs
Prescription drugs are not covered under The Tennessee Plan and all members are encouraged to enroll in Medicare Part D for prescription drug needs. For those who can access the internet, Medicare has a tool available on their website to help choose a prescription drug plan based upon the drugs an individual is presently taking. An individual may also call Medicare at 800.MEDICARE (800.633.4227) to get more information.