Premature babies usually can get some financial help through TennCare and other programs.
Compared to many other states, Tennessee has a poor success rate when it comes to premature infants -- one out of every seven births in the state was considered premature in 2010, according to the Mountain States Health Alliance. Many premature babies in Tennessee die due to lack of access to adequate care, and even if a premature infant lives, the medical bills that accumulate are often staggering. As a result, parents in Tennessee are some of the people most in need of premature infant financial help.
TennCare
TennCare is the Medicaid program for the state of Tennessee. It is divided into two major programs, TennCare Medicaid and TennCare Standard. Children who are under 21, including premature babies, usually qualify for Medicaid coverage if they are part of a low-income family. Premature babies also qualify if they have a medical condition expected to last more than 30 days. Under this portion of TennCare, single mothers and caretakers also qualify for help, which often is helpful considering that many premature births occur via cesareans and therefore need slightly more follow-up care. Premature infants may qualify for TennCare Standard assistance if their Medicaid coverage is expiring and no other insurance is available, and if they are in a family whose income is 200 percent below the designated poverty level. You may apply at your local branch of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Organizational Assistance
As in other states, help for premature babies in Tennessee is available through major non-profit organizations. Two of the most recognized include the United Way and March of Dimes. However, these groups often do not provide direct assistance -- that is, they won't issue you a check. Instead, they partner with organizations that can. The amount of assistance provided depends on need and the amount of contributions the organization has on hand at the time of your application. You can get information about United Way assistance by calling 2-1-1 or by visiting www.211.org to get an alternate number. The March of Dimes is able to provide limited grants to both for-profit and non-profit businesses, as well as government agencies, which provide care for premature babies and their families.
Hospitals and Clinics
Many clinics in Tennessee provide sliding scale fees for low-income families, even if the sliding scale is not actively marketed. To find out what reductions you and your baby can get, contact the financial department of the hospital or clinic. Be specific about your financial situation, as well as the care you and your baby need, so the department can give you an idea of what charges you'll still have.
Indirect Assistance
The state of Tennessee provides indirect assistance to premature babies and their families through other government programs such as Women With Independent Children and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. These programs may not directly cover the medical expenses you and your premature baby have, but they can reduce the financial burdens you have in other areas so that you have a greater likelihood of covering the minimum payments due on the medical expenses. You also can get this type of help from your local churches if there is something you need that a state program doesn't cover.
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