Senior benefits in Cocke County, Tennessee

The East Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability, run by the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency (ETHRA), serves older adults age 60 and older, adults with disabilities, and caregivers in Cocke County. It plans and funds local aging services such as congregate and home-delivered meals, the SHIP/SMP Medicare counseling program, family caregiver support and respite, options counseling for long-term care and home- and community-based services, the long-term care ombudsman, and public guardianship. Call the toll-free Information and Assistance line to find out what is offered locally.

Estimated service value: $1,000–$6,000 a year

Tennessee's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay home heating and cooling bills. In Cocke County it is delivered by Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority (DCEA), the local Community Action Agency, which also serves Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Monroe, and Sevier counties. Households under the income limit get points based on income, energy burden, and whether members are elderly, disabled, veterans, or young children. Payment goes directly to the utility. Apply through the state THDA portal, call the DCEA office, or dial 2-1-1 for referral.

Estimated bill savings: $174–$750 a year

Tennova Healthcare - Newport Medical Center is the main hospital serving Cocke County. It offers a financial assistance program with a Charity Care Discount, an Uninsured Discount, and a Catastrophic Care Discount for patients who cannot afford to pay. Eligibility is measured using multiples of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Ask a Financial Counselor for an application or call the hospital to request one.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

In this county: Cocke: Newport Medical Center offers charity care, uninsured, and catastrophic discounts based on multiples of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; the exact thresholds are set in its published policy and the hospital makes the final decision.

ETHRA Public Transit runs door-to-door, demand-response vans across Cocke County and the wider East Tennessee region. The service meets Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and is open to the general public, with priority help for older adults and riders with a disability getting to medical visits, shopping, senior centers, and other trips. Rides are shared and must be booked ahead, so call at least three business days before the trip to reserve a seat.

Estimated service value: $200–$1,500 a year