Health Insurance for Freelancers in Tennessee: 2026 Guide
PSM and PSN of Tennessee are headquartered in the state, which makes Tennessee one of the best places in the country to be a self-employed buyer.
Tennessee is a strong state for self-employed health insurance for one specific reason: both Population Science Management (PSM) and Population Science Network (PSN) are headquartered here. That means more carrier options, more localized pricing, and plans that are actually built for the Tennessee provider landscape.
What Tennessee freelancers pay on the marketplace
Unsubsidized ACA premiums for a 40-year-old single freelancer in Nashville or Memphis run about $420 to $580 a month for Silver. It's not the worst in the country, but it's not cheap either, and subsidies phase out fast for anyone with a decent year of 1099 income.
The Tennessee-specific plan options
PSM of TN (Reference-Based Pricing) is often the lowest monthly premium on the menu. PSN of TN PPO is the second option, with HSA-eligible variants and a strong Tennessee provider network. Both are designed around Tennessee hospitals and physician groups.
Aetna Open Choice EPO and PPO are also live in Tennessee and cover most of the state's larger systems (Vanderbilt, HCA, Ascension Saint Thomas). BCBS of Nebraska writes here through the BlueCard network, which is accepted at essentially every Tennessee hospital.
Why Tennessee freelancers often save the most
The combination of local RBP options, strong PPO networks, and no state income tax on premiums (Tennessee has no state income tax at all) means Tennessee self-employed workers often keep more of the savings than freelancers in higher-tax states.
Run your age band, household, and state through the rate calculator on the home page for a quick estimate.