Tennessee's CHOICES program limits the amount that assisted living communities can charge CHOICES members based on a personal needs allowance (PNA). The PNA is calculated at 300 percent of the current federal SSI benefit. Assisted living communities cannot charge CHOICES members more than 80 percent of the resulting number for room and board services.
As of 2018, the maximum federal SSI benefit is $750 for an individual. Based on this number, enrolled CHOICES members would be required to pay $1,800 per month for room and board.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be an adult age 65 or over
- Be an adult age 21 or over with a physical disability
- Make less than $2,250 per month
- Have less than $2,000 in assets (excluding the home you live in)
More information on the CHOICES program qualifications can be found at www.tn.gov. To learn more about eligibility requirements, contact your health-plan managed care organization (MCO). You can locate the number on your TennCare card.
If you're not enrolled in TennCare, but would like to apply for CHOICES, call your local Area Agency on Aging and Disability (AAAD) at 1-866-836-6678. Not everyone qualifies for Medicaid and CHOICES, but the AAAD may have other suggestions depending on your specific circumstances.
Please note: Not all assisted living communities accept residents through the CHOICES program. Be sure to contact individual locations for their CHOICES status and to find information on lower-income programs they may offer.