SNAP Skimming: TN Reimbursing Stolen Snap Benefits
In July, Carisma Buffington, a single mom with two sons, had waited for over 2 months to receive SNAP benefits when she learned that all...
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Courage. Candor. Compassion.
Every day we bear witness to the heartwarming and heartbreaking personal experiences our clients face. We must lift up our neighbors who have no access to health insurance, have delayed care, or have crushing medical debt, as well as those who are thriving because of public programs like TennCare and CoverKids.
These are real-life examples of policy failures and the missed opportunities of our leaders, as well as the triumph of getting hard-fought access to life-saving care.
Our voices in harmony create a powerful force that can move hearts and minds. We believe at the core that Tennesseans must be heard and considered in decisions that greatly impact their lives. Their voices ring out clear, singing a song of empowerment, opportunity, and justice.
REAL TENNESSEANS. REAL STORIES.
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Portland, TN Mom's Story Shows Need for Fully Funding WIC
A Portland, Tennessee mom is one of 133,000 who could see important nutrition support cut. She is caring for her infant child and is...
A Life of Hard Work and a Desperate Need for Healthcare
Danielle Byers is now 56 years old and has worked all kinds of jobs since she was 17
Jordyn's Struggle
Jordyn Vanatta, a Nashville resident, shared her experiences and struggles with the lack of healthcare coverage in a recent interview....
The Real Cost of Inadequate Healthcare
Conchata Eastwood, a resident of East Nashville and a mother of three, ages 14, 16, and 4, shared her family's health challenges with...
Brook's Battle with Tennessee's Healthcare System
Brook Chadwick, a New York native, found herself facing a multitude of healthcare challenges after relocating to Tennessee with her...
Unhoused in Tennessee
To get SNAP in Tennessee, the state assumes that one has a phone, has access to computers, an email address, and a home address. If...
The Challenges Faced by Disabled Adults
In 2020, my son Chris Robertson (55 years old) was laid off from work because he was deemed physically unfit to have a job. Chris worked...
Skimming in Memphis
Tiffany Bellamy, a Memphis mother of three who recently lost a daughter to tragedy, had her SNAP benefits stolen from her in July....
How Insurance Saved Darita's Brother After a Car Crash
“He was a vegetable; I couldn’t take care of him.” Mark was able to receive coverage through TennCare and stay in the facility. Sadly...
The Power of Faith and Determination: Janet's Stroke Story
August 27, 2002, my life abruptly changed forever. A typical morning in my household often looked like me waking up my eight-year old son...
Trying to Survive on $707 a Month
I got hurt and could not keep working. I have plates and screws in my neck. If I try to work I’m days in bed, trying to manage the pain....
The Impact of Politicalization on Access to Healthcare
A young TJC client who was on TennCare because her mom was pregnant hasn't known a life where she couldn't go to the doctor or have to...
Prioritizing Health Amidst Inflating Costs
"As our elected officials consider to weigh the future of our nation’s healthcare, I thought I would take the opportunity to share my...
Closing the Gap: LGBTQ+ Healthcare in Tennessee
Philip Heil has been a proud resident of the state of Tennessee since 2008. He is a member of the LGBTQ community in Nashville, attended...
Uninsured and Untreated
I am an uninsured individual. I have untreated health issues because I can’t afford to go to the doctor. I should be on medication that...
A Troubled Healthcare System (Health Insurance vs No Health Insurance)
There is a definite disparity between “the haves and the have nots”. What I’ve learned through experiences with healthcare in Tennessee...
The Challenges of TennCare Coverage for Pregnant Women: Sierra's Story
Sierra Clark lives in Millington, Tennessee with her husband and five children. She is a stay-at-home mother and her husband works....
A Retired Healthcare Provider's Plea for Health Justice
A 78-year-old year old female wrote TJC to share her thoughts on health justice. She is a retired healthcare provider and is enrolled in...
Improving Access to Healthcare in Tennessee through Language Services
A 31-year-old woman who is a frontline healthcare worker wrote TJC about her concern for the lack of language services in Tennessee. She...
Medicaid Expansion is a Simple First Step towards Better Healthcare
Amy Gordon Bono, MD, MPH, shares the importance of increasing access to health insurance, especially in Tennessee. "Expanding Medicaid is...
How TJC Helped Elizabeth Secure SNAP Benefits for Her Grandchildren
As the primary caregiver for her four grandchildren, Mrs. Elizabeth Franklin knows the importance of the federal nutrition programs for...
Living with Neurofibromatosis: Alicia's Battle with Chronic Pain
Alicia Cossman lives in constant pain. She has a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis (NF): her body can’t fight off tumors, so...
Addressing the Inequities in Resource Access
A 35-year-old woman shared the following with TJC: “There are countless well-intentioned programs, policies, and organizations...
A Voice for the Voiceless
Dedra Stewart believes that there are three things in this world that we all have a responsibility to care for, “Children, animals, and...
A Second Chance at Life
In March 2022, a client came to us needing insurance for a lung transplant. He had a very advanced stage of pulmonary fibrosis, a...
Donald and Betty's Story of Resilience and Hope
Donald Rippy, and his partner Betty Batey, have had their share of struggles. After years of work for UPS, Betty injured her spinal cord...
Navigating Life as a Single Mom with Physical and Mental Health Challenges
Born and raised in Memphis, Ms. April M and her 13-year-old son have lived in the Shelby County community for their entire lives....
Hispanic Discrimination in Healthcare
A 44-year-old Hispanic woman with private health insurance wrote TJC to about the racial discrimination that she has experienced while...
How Cynthia Baker Advocates for the Blind
Cynthia Baker has been legally blind her entire life, perhaps due to her mother’s measles during pregnancy. Her husband Ricky is also...
Why Beronica Lewis Chose to Get Vaccinated
Beronica Lewis, age 31, shares her experience getting the COVID-19 vaccine. She explains, "I got vaccinated because of the regulations of...
Racial Bias in Medical Treatment
Amber Sherman, a 26-year-old Black woman, wrote TJC about the racial discrimination that she’s experienced as a person of color. She has...
The Harsh Reality of No Health Insurance
At night, Anita’s oxygen level plummets. It’s hard for her to breathe. Save for a few months last year, Anita has endured a lack of...
Addressing the Link Between Racism and Health Disparities
A 62-year-old Black woman shared her experiences with health injustices. She pays monthly premiums for private health insurance through...
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