🧭 Overview
Long-term care is one of the most significant financial risks facing Tennessee residents, and one of the least planned for. This page brings together the numbers that matter: what care actually costs in Tennessee, how many people are currently protected by long-term care insurance (LTCI), what the state offers in tax incentives, and what Medicaid will and won't cover.
💰 The Cost of Long-Term Care in Tennessee
These figures track real rates paid by families in Tennessee last year.
| Care Setting | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-Home Non-Medical Caregiver | $70,928 | $5,911 | #42 of 50 |
| Assisted Living Facility | $70,140 | $5,845 | #32 of 50 |
| Nursing Home: Private Room | $120,450 | $10,038 | #35 of 50 |
Source: CareScout Cost of Care Survey
Tennessee ranks #42 out of 50 states for in-home care costs, making it one of the more affordable states for in-home care nationally. For a couple in their mid-60s planning for the future, a two-to-three year care event could easily consume $253,430 or more, funds that would otherwise go to a surviving spouse, children, or retirement income.
📊 How Long-Term Care Insurance is Used in Tennessee
Tennessee has 142,130 residents currently covered by long-term care insurance policies, at a moderate level compared to the national average. Most recently, LTCI paid out $281,768,020 to 1,859 Tennessee claimants, with an average payout of $151,570 per claimant.
💸 Tennessee State Tax Incentives for LTCI Premiums
Tennessee currently offers no state income tax benefit for long-term care insurance premiums. Federal deductibility rules still apply for self-employed individuals and businesses that meet IRS requirements.
Benefit type: None
No state income tax on wages or salary.
Statutory reference: None
Source: AHIP
🤝 Tennessee LTC Partnership Program
Tennessee participates in the Long-Term Care Partnership Program, a joint federal-state initiative that lets policyholders protect assets equal to the benefits paid out by a qualifying LTCI policy before Medicaid applies a spend-down. In practical terms, a policy that pays $300,000 in benefits allows you to protect an additional $300,000 in assets while still qualifying for Medicaid coverage. This makes partnership-certified policies especially powerful for middle-income families in Tennessee who want Medicaid as a backstop without spending down to near-zero.
🏥 Medicaid and Long-Term Care in Tennessee
Medicaid is the payer of last resort for long-term care, but qualifying requires spending down most of your assets first. Here are Tennessee's current Medicaid thresholds:
| Threshold | Amount |
|---|---|
| Medicaid Spend-Down (individual asset limit) | $2,000 |
| Community Spouse: Minimum Asset Allowance | $32,532 |
| Community Spouse: Maximum Asset Allowance | $162,660 |
| Minimum Monthly Income Allowance (spouse) | $2,643 |
In Tennessee, an individual must spend down assets to $2,000 before qualifying for Medicaid long-term care coverage. A community spouse may retain between $32,532 and $162,660. Because Tennessee participates in the LTC Partnership Program, a qualifying policy can effectively raise the protected asset amount by the total benefits paid, a significant planning advantage for couples with moderate assets.
🏠 For Tennessee Residents: Is LTCI Right for You?
Long-term care insurance isn't right for everyone, but for most middle- and upper-middle-income families in Tennessee, it is the most efficient way to protect assets, preserve choices, and avoid placing a financial burden on family members. At current Tennessee care costs, even a modest policy with a $150–$200/day benefit and a three-year benefit period could offset hundreds of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket exposure.
Most people apply in their 50s or 60s, when they're more likely to qualify in good health and lock in lower premiums.
💼 For Financial Advisors and CPAs in Tennessee
Long-term care planning intersects directly with retirement income planning, estate planning, and tax strategy, three areas your clients rely on you to coordinate. The data on this page (care costs, LTCI claims history, tax incentives, Medicaid thresholds) gives you and your clients a factual foundation for the conversation.
If you work with clients in Tennessee and want help with quotes, a quick health pre-screen, or a partner for long-term care planning, connect with Jesse.
This page is updated annually. Data reflects the most recent available surveys as of 2025–2026. For current personalized quotes or benefit design questions, contact us.