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Sign as a Business Leader

As a North Carolina business leader, I endorse the following statement:

We, as North Carolina business leaders, understand that a strong economy and a thriving workforce require healthy families. Right now, too many hard-working families are uninsured. In fact, about two-thirds of all uninsured adults in North Carolina work. They are construction workers, farmers, child care providers, and even veterans. We urge the North Carolina General Assembly to achieve a bi-partisan solution to close the health insurance coverage gap. Now is the time to act. There are proposals on the table that would require no investment of state tax dollars and closing the gap would create an estimated 37,000 jobs and billions in economic activity. Much of this economic activity would benefit our rural communities and other areas most in need of an economic boost. Closing the health insurance coverage gap is a good deal for the health of North Carolina families and for our economy. We urge you to work together and achieve a policy solution that closes the health insurance coverage gap.

Business Leaders for Closing the Coverage Gap

By signing this statement you are granting permission to Care4Carolina to publicize your endorsement. Your personal information will only be used for the purposes of this public endorsement statement and will not be shared with any other entity. Personal contact information will not be shared in endorsement statements listings or ads. Employer affiliation will be used for identification purposes only. For example: “Mr./Ms./Mrs. John Doe, CEO, ABC Corporation*; Anytown, NC”.

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Faith Leaders Addendum

As a North Carolina faith leader/ community of faith, I/we endorse the following statement:

We, as people of faith in North Carolina, believe that the Lord brings good news to the poor, binds up the broken-hearted, and comforts all those who mourn. We believe that when we work to ease the burdens of our neighbors who are struggling the most, we are caring for God. And, we believe we are called to follow our God by doing good, not only in the halls of our congregations, but by seeking justice in the wider world.

That means we cannot stand silent when presented with the opportunity to provide healthcare coverage for hundreds of thousands of our brothers and sisters. We understand that a community cannot flourish while its people lack access to affordable, quality healthcare. Healthy families are the bedrock of our communities of faith and of our local economies. Uninsured North Carolinians include members of our congregations, pastors, child care providers, farmers, construction workers, small business owners, neighbors, and friends. We urge the North Carolina General Assembly to work together across bi-partisan lines to close the health insurance coverage gap for all of these children of God.

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By signing this statement you are granting permission to Care4Carolina to publicize your endorsement. Your personal information will only be used for the purposes of this public endorsement statement and will not be shared with any other entity. Personal contact information will not be shared in endorsement statements, listings, or ads. Employer information will be used for identification purposes only. For example: “Rev. John Doe, Pastor, ABC Church, Anytown, NC.”

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Sign as a Grassroots Group

As legislation progresses to enact a North Carolina solution to close the health insurance coverage gap, it is critical that we have a grassroots team ready to mobilize. By signing up as a member of the Care4Carolina Grassroots Action Network, you agree to activate your group/organization when action is requested during the campaign. Action requests may include but are not limited to reaching out to legislators, sharing posts on social media, and relaying information to other contacts.

Your work as a grassroots group/organization is essential to our efforts, and Care4Carolina appreciates your support in ensuring that our mission is achieved. Together, we will find a North Carolina solution to close the health insurance coverage gap.

*By signing on as a member of the Care4Carolina Grassroots Action Network, your group/organization’s information will not be shared externally. The information collected through this form is for internal use only.

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Close the Gap—Lower Private Insurance Costs. Just Do It!

October 6, 2020 by Hailey Gutzmer 1 Comment

By Peg O’Connell

Why should we close the coverage gap, let me count the ways? [Apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning].

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I, and other contributors, have put forth a variety of well supported reasons that the North Carolina General Assembly needs to get on the stick and close the coverage gap. 

First, there are the 750,000 people (since COVID struck) who have no affordable option to buy health insurance for themselves or their families. Second, there will be a huge positive economic impact on our state’s economy—over $4 billion in new federal funding will come to North Carolina, annually.  That is like passing a CARES Act every year. Third, closing the gap will help stabilize our rural hospitals and medical practices.  Having more insured patients will lessen the uncompensated care. And fourth, and I should probably have put this first, it is the right thing to do!  People are suffering and enacting a policy that will close the gap by opening up our state’s Medicaid program can help so many during this very difficult time in our state’s history.

But still, nothing happens. Grrrr!  

Well, here’s another reason, that will impact those who are asking “why should I care about people in the gap, I have good health insurance?” Closing the coverage gap will lower private health insurance premiums in North Carolina!  Say what? Yes, that is correct.  The more people who are insured, the less uncompensated care, the less cost shifting to those of us who are lucky enough to be insured. 

According to a 2018 issue of the Journal of Health Economics,[1] closing the health insurance coverage gap helps reduce individual health insurance premiums and states that have closed their coverage gap experience an average of 11-12% lower rates across health insurance plans than states that have not found a solution. In fact, the latest information coming from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and Georgetown School of Public Policy indicates that states that recently closed the coverage gap experienced a 15-16% reduction in their average individual insurance rates.  

You can trust me on this. I am an old [former] insurance lawyer, and this is a big deal.  When businesses are looking at setting up shop or relocating to a new state, you can bet your shamrocks, that they look at the cost of doing business and at the top of the list is how much it costs to insure workers. Can we really afford to be so cavalier with the prospect of new businesses choosing North Carolina?  I think not.  

Even if none of the heart strings arguments sway you, then think of your own wallet or think of our state’s economy and our competitiveness.  To borrow a phrase, the North Carolina General Assembly needs to “just do it!” 


[1] Health Economics. 2018;27:1877–1903. 

Category iconFall 2020 Series Tag iconCoverage Gap,  Premium Prices

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pamela Tripp says

    October 6, 2020 at 8:42 pm

    Great validation and good common sense thinking.

    Reply

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