Personal Story
Letter to Editor: Debra of Springhill, TN
Debra of Springhill, TN writes: My name is Debra Smith. I live in Springhill. I was a microbiologist for over 20 years. Before the ACA, I could only get insurance through my employer because I had a pre-existing condition. By 2013, I had almost met my million-dollar cap. That year, I left my job with…
Read MoreLetter to Editor: Brynda of Smyrna, TN
Brynda of Smyrna, TN writes: I am a longtime resident of Tennessee and have run my own psychology practice for more than 10 years. It has been a long-time dream of mine to start my own practice. Unfortunately, I put my dream on hold for years because I knew that neither my husband nor I…
Read MoreLetter to Editor: Melinda of Portland, TN
Melinda of Portland, TN writes: My name is Melinda Dyer, I live in Portland, TN, and I have three kids. I worked low-middle class jobs, for many years at poverty level. Fortunately I got a few breaks and some education, and things changed for the better. My husband is an assistant principal, and now I…
Read MoreKathryn of Signal Mountain, TN
Kathryn of Signal Mountain, TN writes: I am a resident of Signal Mountain, TN, and the mother of four children, two with special health care needs. My son has a neuromuscular metabolic disorder, and my youngest daughter has Down syndrome and was born with esophageal atresia and a form of leukemia. We are an average…
Read MoreAmy of Nashville, TN
Amy of Nashville, TN writes: I’ve lived in Tennessee 40 years. I currently work at Belmont University and Centennial Medical Center. As a nurse, instructor and parent of two young children, I see everyday the effects of a lacknowing of access to healthcare. Prior to ACA folks were literally perishing or foreclosing due to lack…
Read MoreLetter to Editor: Sherrie of Knoxville, TN
Sherrie of Knoxville, TN writes: I am an example of what can happen to someone who doesn’t have access to medical care. I lost a job with health insurance due to pre-existing conditions that the insurer didn’t want to cover. I tried for years to get coverage under TNCare but they put more restrictions on…
Read MoreDanielle of Collierville, TN
Danielle of Collierville, TN writes: I moved to Memphis 8 years ago for a job on the medical staff of Baptist Memorial Health Care. I am now a mother of two girls residing in Collierville and serve our paralyzed veterans at the Memphis VA Medical Center. As a Christian, I believe we all deserve access…
Read MoreLetter to Editor: Elizabeth of Nashville, TN
Elizabeth of Nashville, TN writes: When I was pregnant with my second child in 2012, I had an abnormal pap test for the first time in my adult life. While the ACA took effect in 2010, the pre-existing conditions were not eliminated until 2014. So, while I was so excited about my pregnancy, I was very…
Read MoreErin of Nashville, TN
Erin of Nashville, TN writes: My name is Erin Alff. My family and I moved to Nashville in 2011. I am a stay at home mom to 3 little boys. We live in the 12 South neighborhood and my oldest attends Glendale Elementary. As a mom with asthma and with 2 children with it…
Read MoreLetter to Editor: Samm of Madison, TN
Samm of Madison, TN writes: While I am proud of Tennessee’s two senators, Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, I am concerned that both of them have talked about the need to sustain the benefits of ACA for those in need until a better plan is in place, but then both turned around and voted for…
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