My name is Tiffany Hensley, and I’m writing on behalf of my grandfather, Thomas Lee Tyree, a 71-year-old man who is in a nursing home in Tennessee. He has advanced vascular dementia, severe emphysema, heart disease, and has survived multiple strokes. He is frail, confused, and doesn’t always remember where he is—but he remembers one thing clearly: his home.

That home was built in the 1960s by his grandmother. It’s the heart of our family, passed through seven generations. It’s where he raised his children. It’s where he watched his grandkids grow up. It’s the place he still asks about every day—“Has the trash been taken out?” “Is the grass mowed?” Even now, he calls, confused and worried, asking about it.

But unless we stop it, the government is going to take that home from him.

When Grandpa’s health declined, our family had no choice but to turn to Medicaid to cover the $10,000/month cost of long-term care. What we didn’t realize—and what most Americans don’t know—is that Medicaid is not free help. It’s a loan. And when a recipient dies, the state can seize their home and assets to “recover costs.”

My name is Tiffany Hensley, and I’m writing on behalf of my grandfather, Thomas Lee Tyree, a 71-year-old man who is dying in a nursing home in Johnson City, Tennessee. He has advanced vascular dementia, severe emphysema, heart disease, and has survived multiple strokes. He is frail, confused, and doesn’t always remember where he is—but he remembers one thing clearly: his home.

That home was built in the 1960s by his grandmother. It’s the heart of our family, passed through seven generations. It’s where he raised his children. It’s where he watched his grandkids grow up. It’s the place he still asks about every day—“Has the trash been taken out?” “Is the grass mowed?” Even now, he calls, confused and worried, asking about it.

But unless we stop it, the government is going to take that home from him.

When Grandpa’s health declined, our family had no choice but to turn to Medicaid to cover the $10,000/month cost of long-term care. What we didn’t realize—and what most Americans don’t know—is that Medicaid is not free help. It’s a loan. And when a recipient dies, the state can seize their home and assets to “recover costs.”

This is called Medicaid Estate Recovery, or MERP. It was mandated in 1993 under President Clinton, originally intended to target wealthy estates. But in reality, it’s destroying working-class families like ours—people who don’t have retirement savings or second homes, just one roof over their heads.

We are now fighting for a waiver to prevent Tennessee from seizing our grandfather’s home after he dies.

We have documentation proving:

The house has deep generational and emotional value
Grandpa has severe cognitive and physical disabilities
His family has been heavily involved in his care
He did not understand Medicaid was a loan
Losing the house would cause emotional and psychological harm to us all

We are asking the state to grant mercy, and we are asking you to stand with us.

This isn’t just about our family—it’s about thousands of families across America facing the same cruel shock. You work your whole life, pay taxes, raise your children, and in the end, the government shows up with a bill.

Please sign this petition to support our grandfather’s MERP waiver request and help us raise awareness to end Medicaid Estate Recovery altogether.

Let Thomas Lee Tyree die with dignity. Let him leave his family something. Let his memory live in the home he loved.

We are not asking for money—we’re asking for compassion, common sense, and justice.

Please help.

Sincerely,

Tiffany Hensley, Grandpa lee and Family ♥️

 

This petition is our call for justice, mercy, and reform. We are asking the state of Tennessee to grant us a waiver, and calling on lawmakers to end this devastating policy for families like ours across the U.S.