Tennessee health care model

Tennessee’s innovative new health care program took center stage on the front page of today’s Wall Street Journal (subscription required), having won national attention as states grapple with trying to develop plans for universal health care.

Tennessee’s plan, officially launched March 8th., differs from California and Massachusetts’ in that theirs, according to the article, “envisions people paying more of their own medical expense at first in exchange for protection against catastrophic costs.” Tennessee’s plan follows the concept of limited-benefit, or “mini-medical,” plans, and caps coverage at $25,000 annually, only $15,000 of which can go to hospital bills. Several other states, including Kentucky, have parallel programs on their books. A basic explanation of these type of plans is here.


Tennessee Program @ http://www.covertn.gov/
Overview
Summary

Press releases @ http://www.covertn.gov/press_061206.pdf
http://www.covertn.gov/press_121906.pdf
http://www.covertn.gov/press_030807.pdf