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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.

Signing Disclosure

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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Coverage Gap Worsens NC’s Rural/Urban Divide

August 4, 2020 by Hailey Gutzmer Leave a Comment

By: Peg O’Connell

I love the bumper sticker that says, “I was not born in North Carolina, but I got here as soon as I could.” That is my story.  I was born in southeastern Ohio, but I came to Raleigh 31 years ago, along with half the other people in Ohio, Pennsylvania and the northeast.  I love North Carolina and I will never leave.

Over my time here I have seen tremendous change in all parts of the state (I have actually been in all 100 counties). The growth in population in our cities has been amazing, but it comes at a cost to our rural communities and small towns. People are leaving many of our rural areas to move to the cities or suburbs for education and work opportunities. And sadly, many never go back to those small towns. 

But rural North Carolina is a vast part of our geography and our economy and we can’t let this rural/urban divide create “two North Carolinas.”  I am afraid, however, that is exactly what is happening to the healthcare system in our state. North Carolina’s failure to enact a solution to close the coverage gap is strangling healthcare and the economy in rural parts of our state.

Since 2011, seven rural hospitals have closed in North Carolina, and more are at risk of shutting their doors. Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the NC Healthcare Association estimates that rural hospitals are collectively losing $145 million per month. The pandemic has hit all parts of the healthcare system hard but the states that have already closed the coverage gap have seen a 62% decrease in likelihood of rural hospitals closing.

If North Carolina were to accept the federal funds to close the gap, the result would be over $11 billion in new health care funding to the state from 2020-22. Our legislators need to look again at this proven solution. Rural North Carolina can’t afford to lose any more employers, or health care providers, especially now when we need them most. 

North Carolina’s failure to come up with a solution to close the coverage gap is putting all parts of our state at risk, but especially our rural areas. What are we waiting for?

Category iconSummer 2020 Series Tag iconCoverage Gap,  Rural Health

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