A new University of Memphis study estimates the number of uninsured Tennesseans will drop by more than 50 percent as 558,004 previously uninsured citizens under the age of 65 will gain coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The study is based on data collected in 2009 when 910,215 Tennesseans under age 65 — nearly 17 percent of Tennessee’s total population — were identified as uninsured:
Uninsured residents will have the option of seeking coverage though TennCare, Tennessee’s version of Medicaid, or qualifying for private insurance through the state’s own health insurance exchange. Others will qualify for coverage under their parents’ health care plans:
The study also reports that Tennessee will save $2.3 billion in cuts to bad debt and uncompensated care, which will aid in funneling more money into the state’s health care system. “Uncompensated care and bad debt will be reduced from $4.11 billion to $1.84 billion, a 55 percent decrease, the study said”:
In spite of this, Tennessee remains slow in making any sort of progress towards meeting federal deadlines for enacting legislation that must be in place in order to receive federal funding for the implementation of key parts of the health care bill. Much of their choice to hold off is based on whether the Supreme Court decides to overturn the ACA or if the potential election of a Republican president would lead to a repeal of the law.
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