Which children are eligible for the Vaccines for Children program in Tennessee?
Children from birth through 18 years of age who meet at least one of the following criteria are eligible to receive VFC vaccines:
TennCare-eligible: A child who is eligible for Medicaid or enrolled in the TennCare program
Uninsured: A child who has no health insurance coverage
American Indian or Alaska native: As defined by the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603)
Underinsured:
• A child who has commercial (private) health insurance but the coverage does not include vaccines
• A child whose insurance covers only selected vaccines (VFC-eligible for noncovered vaccines only)
• A child whose insurance caps vaccine and other wellness service coverage at a certain dollar amount
In Tennessee, underinsured children are eligible to receive VFC vaccines only through a Federally Qualified Health Center, Rural Health Clinic or local health department. Children whose health insurance covers the cost of vaccinations are not eligible for VFC vaccines, even when a claim for the cost of the vaccine and its administration would be denied for payment by the insurance carrier because the plan's deductible had not been met.