Rudolf and his wife are retired but are the primary caregivers for two of the grandsons, Christopher and Jeffrey. Both boys have autism, and Jeffery has learning disabilities that put him years behind his same-aged peers.
Rudolf and his wife are covered by Medicare, and though Rudolf still works part-time, he is not offered insurance through his job. Fortunately, the boys are eligible for TennCare Medicaid, which has been vital for their health and growth.
One of the most important benefits of their TennCare Medicaid has been dental care. When Rudolf and his wife first started caring for Jeffrey, he needed root canals and two crowns. Recently, they took Christopher into the dentist for a full day to get necessary work done. “Without TennCare, we wouldn’t have been able to afford that,” Rudolf said. “But it’s extremely important for them to get that care, otherwise their teeth would just get worse and worse.”
Special thanks to the Tennessee Justice Center for their partnership.