By skyforbes I recently moved to Tennessee and applied for TennCare for my 4-month-old daughter. The TennCare representative told me the approval process can take up to 45 days and advised me to call Alabama Medicaid (our previous state) to close her case, which I have already done.
I’m a solo parent and currently unemployed, and my daughter is a U.S. citizen. I’m planning to apply for Marketplace insurance for myself before December 15, since I know I’m not eligible for Medicaid due to the 5-year green card rule (I've been a permanent resident for 4)
My main question is about my daughter’s coverage during this waiting period:
Should I temporarily add my baby to a Marketplace plan until TennCare makes a decision, or is it better to wait since TennCare may make her coverage retroactive to the date of application?
Also, for anyone familiar with Tennessee Medicaid: What is the chance of a U.S.-citizen infant being denied TennCare under these circumstances, and if that were to happen, what rights or next steps would she have?
Thank you. I appreciate any insights 🌼🙌🏻