About 2.5 months ago, I started a petition here calling on the state of Utah to mandate that TMJ disorders be covered by insurance like any other joint. It blew up.
You signed, you shared your pain, and you proved something loud and clear: we’re not alone, and we’re not invisible. And it was heard.
Since the success of the petition, I have been as actively reaching out to sentor Mike McKell on a bill aimed at tackling this head-on. My goal is to get get it on the floor by next year or 2027 at the latest, and to push it not just for Utah, but on a national level so that TMJ sufferers across the U.S. finally get the recognition and coverage we deserve.
Now, it’s time for phase two and this is BIG.
I’ve teamed up with Oh My Jaw, a non-profit foundation formed by TMJD warriors like us who are done being ignored by the medical system. It was founded by Jenny Ginsburg Feldman, who’s now building the patient-led movement we’ve all been waiting for. Together, we’re planning something massive: a national TMJD summit and lobbying day in Washington D.C. in Summer 2026 or 2027.
Adults. Teens. Pre-op. Post-op. Doctors. Advocates. All of us in one place, meeting face-to-face with our senators, demanding research, recognition, and real fing change.
We are DONE being told:
• “It’s too complicated.”
• “It’s not life-threatening.”
• “Try this pain med.”
• “Sorry, I can’t help you.”
Enough is enough.
Yes, TMJD and ICR are complicated. So is endometriosis. So is lupus. So is fibromyalgia. So is UC and Chrons disease. So is c-diff. Guess what? Those were ignored too until people refused to shut up about it (shout out to the amazing Christian John Lillis and the Peggy Lillis Foundation on all there hard work on c-diff.)
TMJD ruins lives. It ruins jaws, isolates people, and drains families financially and emotionally. Most insurance plans exclude TMJ coverage entirely, leaving us to pay thousands or even hundreds of thousands out of pocket. Some of us are 15, in our 20s, 30s, or even in the middle decades of our lives facing conservative treatment, physical therapy, and surgeries no one will cover. This is modern medical gaslighting and it’s being dismissed like we’re exaggerating.
I have watched as people receive medically necessary surgery and then be bill over 800,000 dollars.
We’re building a movement and we need every voice behind it. The more of us who show up, the harder we are to ignore.
Here’s what you can do TODAY to help us make more noise:
Subscribe to www.ohmyjaw.org (scroll all the way down to the bottom on mobile)
Follow us on social media (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram).
This is more than a click on a button somewhere, it’s a statement. It tells the media, lawmakers, and medical community:
We’re not rare.
We’re not exaggerating.
And we’re done being ignored.
You might be wondering, “Why subscribe or follow if I already signed the petition?”
Great question. The petition made waves and it got us in the room. But visibility fades fast. Subscribing keeps the movement alive and gives us a direct way to stay connected with you. It means we can reach out when it’s time to show up, speak out, or take action.
It also sends a clear signal. The press watches this. Lawmakers watch this. Every follow, every email subscriber, adds to the visible proof that this issue touches thousands of lives. Our presence is our power, and right now, every single follow counts.
Real change is finally happening, and I’m so grateful to this community for being part of it. I’ve seen so much sadness and despair here. I’ve felt it and posted about it myself for the last two years. But now, for the first time, we have real hope. And we’re turning that hope into real action.
P.S. I’ll keep posting updates here on Oh My Jaw, national press coverage, and bill progress so you’re always in the loop.
We’re also working on a volunteer sign-up so we can stay better connected and let you know exactly how you can help, whether it’s advocating, sharing your story, or being a voice in your state. Stay tuned!
Oh My Jaw - It's Not All In Your Head