Lesia: McMinnville, TN

Lesia and her husband Billy have been married for 24 years and live in a small town in Tennessee. Several years ago, Billy fractured several vertebrae in a sheet metal factory accident and now has his health insurance through Medicare. But Lesia, who cannot work because of her failing eyesight and painful fibromyalgia, is left without any health insurance at all. 

Lesia was born with poor eyesight but was able to do some part-time work throughout her life, including working as a babysitter and a substitute teacher, and caring for her elderly parents. But without health insurance and access to the surgeries she needs, her eyesight has gotten steadily worse, decreasing by 20% in just the last year. She’s going blind, which scares her. “My eyesight is one of the most precious things I’ve got,” she said.

“If I had insurance, my doctors might be able to save my eyesight,” Lesia said. She would also take care of other serious ailments: her kneecap pops out of place and she needs knee surgery to be able to walk without pain; she has migraines that she cannot manage without medication; and wants to be screened for lung cancer because of the second-hand smoke she was around as a child. 

But without access to Medicaid, Leisa is stuck in the coverage gap and unable to get the care she needs. 

Special thanks to the Tennessee Justice Center for their partnership.