Across the country, Americans feel the healthcare affordability crisis. Emergencies are expensive for uninsured people, and even those who are insured face high costs for various treatments and prescriptions. In Tennessee, approximately 10% of the population is uninsured (700,000 people), 1.4 million people are on Medicaid , 600,000 are insured through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace , and the rest are privately insured. Nearly three million Tennesseans—those uni

If it were not for TennCare Medicaid, Toni Corbin— recognized as a TJC Mother of the Year in 2018 —would not be able to care for her multigenerational household. While she jokes that her home is a little dysfunctional, it is also full of love — and chickens that keep her on her toes. Toni’s home is bustling with life. Her son, granddaughter, great-grandchildren, and even her aging mother all live under one roof. With her own health challenges, including severe arthritis and c

For Andrea, a hardworking single mom of twin boys born prematurely, Medicaid has been a force for good. Andrea’s sons were born at just 31 weeks, over two months premature, weighing in at just four pounds. The twins spent 37 nerve-wracking days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for extra support as they continued to develop outside of the womb. They were enrolled in TennCare when they were about 5 months old and have had TennCare ever since. James and Matthew were di

Research shows that only one in four people recovering from substance use disorders avoid relapse, and fewer than one in five outpatient participants stay sober for a full year. Destiny Thompson is part of the determined minority who has beaten those odds. At 33, Destiny Thompson has entirely rewritten the course of her life. For 18 years, Destiny struggled with opioid addiction. Her battle led her in and out of jail, and it eventually cost her custody of her children. The he

17-year-old Christopher Thielges from East Tennessee almost always has a big smile across his face. He’s a student at Signal Mountain High School who loves photography and spending time with his peers. His mom, Lowry Thielges, agrees that “his smile and his laugh are what people love most about him.” Christopher was born prematurely with Spastic Quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy, a physical disability that affects his upper and lower body mobility. He navigates the world in a wheel

William “Willy” Bruce of Parsons, Tennessee, loved football, physics, and math. He was working toward a degree in Graphic Design at the University of Tennessee, and he was a father of two sons.    Willy passed away from a fatal asthma attack in 2024. He was 25 years old.    At the time of his death, Willy was uninsured. He had lost coverage after he turned 21 and aged out of child benefits. He no longer fell into one of the very limited categories of coverage Tennessee provid

No family should lose access to care because of a system failure, and no individual should require legal intervention to receive the health benefits to which they are entitled under law. Charles B’s experience is demonstrative of the harm caused by these failures. Charles, a husband and father, was diagnosed with an exceedingly rare and aggressive cancer at just 28 years old. Standard treatments were not sufficient. His medical team recommended an aggressive course of care: h

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

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

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

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.