How to get free diapers in Tennessee? Who is eligible? What to know about the TennCare Diaper Benefit

In August, Tennessee will become the first state in the nation to help families cover the cost of diapers. Beginning on Aug. 7, TennCare and CoverKids members under two will be eligible to receive up to 100 free diapers per month, as part of the TennCare Diaper Benefit program.

The benefit is expected to eliminate the financial burden which comes from buying diapers, something which until recently, wasn’t covered by state or federal programs. The benefit was introduced by Gov. Bill Lee back in January of 2023, as a “pro-life” and “pro-family” way to use the $330 million in savings from the state’s new Medicaid block grant funding structure.

As previously reported by the Tennessean, lawmakers approved $30 million in funding for the diaper benefit during the 2023 legislative session.

“Strong families are central to strong communities, and Tennessee is leading the nation in prioritizing resources for families in need,” said Lee in a statement to The Tennessean. “We are the first state in the nation to cover the cost of diapers for mothers in the first two years of a child’s life, and we hope this is a model for others.”

Here’s everything to know about the program.

Who is eligible to receive diapers in Tennessee? How many diapers will be offered?

Any TennCare or CoverKids member under the age of 2 is eligible for the benefit. If you’re unsure about your child’s eligibility, participating pharmacies can help check to see if a child is eligible.

A prescription is not required, however, make sure to have your child’s OptumRx pharmacy card or Social Security number. For newborns, who may not yet have their OptumRx card, the parent’s OptumRx card or SocialSecurity number may be used.

Eligible members will be able to receive up to 100 diapers every 30 days from the list of approved brands/types of diapers.

What pharmacies will be participating in the diaper benefit?

Pharmacies across the state will be participating in the diaper benefit, tn.gov/tenncare will be providing a list of participating pharmacies on Aug. 7.

What brands of diapers will be offered?

TennCare will be providing four major diaper brands during the benefit. Within ease of those brands, specific package sizes and types of diapers will be covered. Brands include:

How much will diapers cost?

Diapers will be free of cost.

Reporter Vivian Jones contributed to this report.

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How to get free diapers in Tennessee with the TennCare Diaper Benefit