Tennessee
No state income tax on wages, no state estate or inheritance tax, and a Medicaid program (TennCare) that runs LTC almost entirely through managed care — Tennessee's caregiving landscape is tax-friendly for retirees but procedurally distinct from neighboring states.
Tennessee long-term-care Medicaid runs through TennCare CHOICES, a managed-long-term-services-and-supports (MLTSS) program. Once approved, your parent enrolls with one of three MCOs (Amerigroup, BlueCare, or UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), which coordinates nursing-home care, in-home services, and the CHOICES Group 3 self-direction option.
Tennessee fully phased out the Hall Tax on investment income in 2021 and has never had an income tax on wages. The state estate tax was repealed in 2016 and the inheritance tax in 2016 as well. Retirees moving from higher-tax states often realize meaningful savings, though high local sales tax (9-10% combined in most counties) offsets some of the benefit.
Tennessee defers to federal FMLA (12 unpaid weeks at employers with 50+ employees). The state has no paid-family-leave program and no state-level caregiver tax credit. Working caregivers should expect to use PTO, unpaid leave, or career flexibility to manage parental care.
Medicare in Tennessee
Nashville and Memphis Advantage markets, Medigap rating rules, rural-access challenges in East TN.
Open guide →
Medicaid & LTC in Tennessee
TennCare CHOICES MLTSS, 60-month look-back, the three MCOs, CHOICES Group 3 self-direction.
Open guide →
Care Settings & Costs in TN
Tennessee cost-of-care by metro; Assisted Care Living Facility vs. Residential Home for the Aged licensure.
Open guide →
Legal & Financial — TN
Tennessee POA, advance directives, probate, the TN Uniform Trust Code, no estate or inheritance tax.
Open guide →
The Caregiver's Life — TN
Federal FMLA only, no state PFL, AAA Family Caregiver Support Program through TN Commission on Aging.
Open guide →
For when you don’t want to dig
Medicaid agency, Area Agency on Aging, Adult Protective Services, free Medicare counseling, legal aid, official forms, and every statute we cite. All in one page.
OCT 15 → DEC 7
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period
Switch Advantage, Medigap, or Part D plans. Tennessee MA penetration is among the highest in the Southeast.
ANNUAL
TennCare CHOICES annual review
TennCare CHOICES enrollees undergo annual redetermination. Watch for the renewal packet 60-90 days before your parent's anniversary date.
APR 15 ANNUAL
Property tax relief deadline
Tennessee's Property Tax Relief Program for elderly homeowners (income-tested) requires annual application through the county trustee. Deadline varies by county.
Recent from Tennessee
Reviewer TBD · May 21
Reviewer TBD · May 14
Reviewer TBD · May 7
Caregiving rules differ meaningfully across state lines. If you’re weighing where to relocate your parent, these comparisons matter.
How we research Tennessee-specific guidance.
Every state page is built from three sources: the state’s own statutes and regulatory filings, federal CMS and SSA documents that apply, and direct input from at least one credentialed reviewer who practices in or is licensed in that state. We re-review every state page quarterly. Tennessee was last fully reviewed on May 21, 2026 by Reviewer to be assigned.