Kathryn is the executive director of a nonprofit , and her husband runs his own small business. Together, they’re raising three wonderful kids and navigating the daily whirlwind of school, sports, and family life. Like all families, they work hard to provide the best childhood for their kids. And like all families, they need access to healthcare. Kathryn's daughter is an avid athlete with a rare genetic disorder which requires monthly infusions, frequent visits to specialist

Adrienne Hinds— an economist, sociologist, and entrepreneur based in Nashville— sees healthcare not just as a personal necessity, but as a cornerstone of economic stability. With a career spanning corporate America, academia, and now her nonprofit consulting firm, Adrienne brings a distinctive blend of professional expertise and lived experience to the conversation around healthcare policy. She is particularly concerned about the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits

For 57-year-old Samantha* from East Tennessee, life has always been about serving others. She and her husband devoted their lives to their community—his work as a pastor and county commissioner gave them both purpose and stability.  Then everything changed. After a back surgery left her husband permanently disabled, they lost not only his income but also their home in the church parsonage. For the first time, they turned to credit cards just to make ends meet. Debt piled up.

As the co-owner of a tattoo shop in Lafayette, Tennessee, and the mother of twin boys with complex medical needs, Shayela Ankenbauer understands what it means to juggle work, parenting, and the high cost of healthcare. For her and her husband, affordable coverage through the Marketplace—made possible by the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs)—is the only thing that keeps her insured. “Before getting on the Marketplace, we didn’t have insurance,” Shayela explained. “When I wa

Mr. Smith receives Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTC) that lowers his monthly premium by an astounding $700, making comprehensive coverage affordable even on his limited Social Security Disability income. For Mr. Smith, the impact goes beyond dollars and cents: “It has provided peace of mind that I don’t have to worry about a major bill coming.”

Two Tennessee grandparents who care for their 5 grandkids could see their SNAP benefits cut because of rules passed recently at the federal level, wiping out the support they need to feed their family.  Congress has raised the age of those who are subject to work requirements for SNAP from 54 to age 64, which would force these two grandparents in Northeast Tennessee to return to work despite impossible conditions. Without SNAP, raising five grandchildren while managing chroni

Over 600,000 Tennesseans’ health insurance cost will double in January, and a third of them will become uninsured . Some ...

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed H.R. 1 into law, a sweeping budget reconciliation bill that includes deep cuts to Medicaid and...

For Kim Battinelli, life changed drastically in the fall of 2020. Just a year after losing her father to cancer, her husband of nearly...

*Names have been changed to safeguard the identities of those who trusted us with their stories.   For people facing tough times, food...

April Eaves lives in Rutherford County with her husband, Jason, and three children, Emery, Avery, and Aaron. Before becoming pregnant...

TennCare Medicaid gives people the opportunity to live fully after tragedy. Gerald Christian— born and raised in Savannah, Tennessee— now...

Nearly two years ago, one of our clients received news that no one wants to hear – she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Originally...

As a lifelong Tennessean, Brandi McCutchen embodies the heart of Southern values with her quintessential grit, grace, and unwavering...

Shawna Delk, a 41-year-old Tennessean, is a fighter. Often tangled in the red tape of a complicated medical system, Shawna’s life has...

When asked why Medicaid matters to her family, Lynnette Deal answered candidly, “In simple terms, I would be lost without this...

For 24-year-old Connor Murphy, Medicaid has meant dignity and independence. Connor is pursuing his Master of Computer Science from the...

Steve Powell has always been a hard worker. Born in Lawrence County and raised in Lewis County, he’s a Tennessean through and...

Drake Ingram is the beloved son of his mother, Jerri. Due to a catastrophic injury in early childhood, Drake battles a long...

“We’d be up to our neck in debt,” our client candidly responded when asked what his family’s life would be like without Medicaid coverage. His wife has arthritis alongside severe foot pain that has required surgery. Additionally, multiple of his children require Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in school. All his family’s medical expenses have been covered through Medicaid, which has been indispensable for the health and well-being of our client’s family.