How many Medicare beneficiaries are in Tennessee?

Tennessee has approximately 1.4M Medicare beneficiaries. Roughly 55% are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, with the balance on Original Medicare — often paired with a Medigap plan and a standalone Part D drug plan.

When is Tennessee Medicare enrollment?

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7 each year, with changes effective January 1. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs January 1 through March 31. New-to-Medicare beneficiaries use their 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday.

Is Medigap available in Tennessee?

Yes. Tennessee has all federal Medigap letter plans (A, B, D, G, K, L, M, N, and high-deductible G and F for those eligible) available from multiple carriers. Medical underwriting typically applies outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window, so timing matters.

Tennessee · Medicare · 2026 plan year

Tennessee Medicare plans for 2026.

Q: What are the top Medicare Advantage carriers in Tennessee?

Leading Medicare Advantage carriers in Tennessee include BlueCross BlueShield TN, Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Aetna, Cigna, Wellcare. Plan availability and network depth vary by county.

Tennessee has approximately 1.4M Medicare beneficiaries — about 55% on Medicare Advantage, the rest on Original Medicare. We compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D options from BlueCross BlueShield TN, Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Aetna, Cigna, Wellcare.

Talk to a licensed Tennessee Medicare advisor Medicare basics Browse plans yourself

1.4M

Tennessee Medicare beneficiaries

~55%

on Medicare Advantage in TN

All 95

Tennessee counties served

Carriers pay us — never you

Want to enroll yourself? Compare Tennessee Medicare plans online.

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The core decision

Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap in Tennessee

For most Tennesseans, the choice between Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Original Medicare plus a Medigap (Supplement) plan is the biggest decision you'll make.

Medicare Advantage in Tennessee

Bundles Part A, Part B, and usually Part D into a private plan. Most Tennessee metros offer competitive $0-premium plans with dental, vision, hearing, OTC, and transportation benefits.

Most Tennessee MA plans are HMOs with local networks including Vanderbilt, HCA Healthcare (Tristar), Methodist Le Bonheur, Erlanger, University of Tennessee Medical Center. We verify your doctors before enrolling.

Medigap in Tennessee

Pairs with Original Medicare and covers the deductibles, coinsurance, and copays Medicare doesn't pay. Any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Medicare accepts Medigap — no networks.

Tennessee Medigap premiums vary by ZIP and age, and carriers may medically underwrite outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window.

Carriers

Top Medicare carriers in Tennessee

Plan availability and network depth vary by county.

BlueCross BlueShield Tennessee

Tennessee's dominant insurer. Statewide network covering Vanderbilt, Erlanger, Methodist Le Bonheur, Tristar.

Humana & UnitedHealthcare

Both national carriers offer competitive MA plans across Tennessee, with UnitedHealthcare's AARP-branded Medigap being a popular Tennessee choice.

Aetna & Cigna

Both have competitive MA footprints in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Cigna has strong national branding which helps with snowbird Tennesseans.

Wellcare

Strong Tennessee Part D footprint and competitive D-SNP options.

Part D

Part D prescription coverage in Tennessee

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, 2026 Part D caps out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,100 per year and eliminates the old "donut hole."

Every Tennessee Medicare beneficiary needs prescription drug coverage (or creditable alternative coverage) to avoid the Part D late enrollment penalty. Tennessee has dozens of standalone Part D plans plus drug coverage bundled into most MA-PD plans.

Formulary check: The same medication can land in very different tiers across plans. We run your drug list against every Part D plan in your ZIP.
Preferred pharmacy: Many Tennessee Part D plans offer lower copays at preferred pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger, Publix, Costco). Which pharmacy you prefer can change which plan is cheapest.
Extra Help / LIS: Tennessee beneficiaries with limited income may qualify for the Low Income Subsidy that significantly reduces drug costs.

Timing

Medicare enrollment dates for Tennessee

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7. Change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans; changes effective January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA OEP): January 1 – March 31. One plan change allowed for members already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): 7 months around your 65th birthday — 3 months before, your birthday month, and 3 months after.
Medigap Open Enrollment: 6 months from your Part B effective date — the one-time window when Tennessee Medigap carriers cannot deny you or charge more for health reasons.
Special Enrollment Periods: Moving into Tennessee, losing employer coverage, qualifying for Extra Help, or moving into or out of a nursing facility may each trigger a SEP.

Common questions

Tennessee Medicare FAQ

Are there Tennessee-specific Medicare rules?

Medicare is federal, so core rules match nationwide. What varies in Tennessee is plan availability, network depth, Medigap pricing, and carrier mix.

Can I switch from Advantage to Medigap later?

Sometimes. Outside your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment window, Tennessee Medigap carriers can medically underwrite — which means they can decline you or charge more for health conditions. We walk through your specific options carefully.

What if my doctor is at a different network?

We verify every doctor and hospital you want to keep against each plan's network before recommending anything. Networks like Vanderbilt, HCA Healthcare (Tristar), Methodist Le Bonheur, Erlanger, University of Tennessee Medical Center are common in Tennessee — but specifics vary plan by plan.

What does SilverEdge cost?

Nothing. Medicare carriers pay us a commission when you enroll. We earn the same regardless of which carrier you pick — our job is to find your best Tennessee fit.

Coverage

Tennessee counties we cover

All 95 Tennessee counties. A few of the counties where we have the most active members:

Shelby (Memphis) Davidson (Nashville) Knox (Knoxville) Hamilton (Chattanooga) Rutherford Williamson Sumner Montgomery Wilson Anderson Sevier Sullivan Washington Maury Putnam Bradley Robertson Blount Greene Cheatham + 75 more

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$1,440 / yr saved

on Medicare Advantage · Nashville, TN

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Network-driven MA switch · Nashville, TN

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