NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – TennCare is expanding health care benefits for pregnant and postpartum women starting Friday.

“Often a mother may have health problems or health complications that arise or worsen due to pregnancy and provide consistent care for them, bring them to see clinicians, doctors or specialists, this which can help not only mothers get better help, but the infant as well,” said TennCare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Victor Wu.

Health care coverage for women will increase from 60 days to now 12 months after pregnancy. The new coverage will also allow mothers to access dental benefits.

“We have also learned that there is a direct link between the oral health of the mother and the oral health of the child and so one of the things that we are really excited about is providing this dental benefit now to our new moms, not just during pregnancy but also for the first 12 months after pregnancy,” Wu said.

Andrea Hewitt, mother of two and owner of East Nashville Doulas, also thinks offering ongoing support to parents after birth makes a huge difference.

“I think it’s amazing. Biological parents need support throughout this first year. They just experienced one of the most amazing and transformative things your body can do. They need rest. They need healing, but they also need support to learn how to take care of these new babies,” Hewitt said.

To access the new benefits, TennCare members are asked to update their TennCare Connect account to notify the agency that they are pregnant.

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