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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.

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Childcare workers are essential, but many still lack health coverage

January 26, 2021 by Hailey Gutzmer Leave a Comment

By Cassandra Brooks

Childcare has been the backbone of our state during the pandemic, providing care and supervision for many parents who serve in frontlines positions. My staff have also stepped up to help children with remote learning, assuming greater responsibility at a time when children cannot join their normal classrooms.

Childcare workers have been essential workers since the start of the pandemic, and I believe that their skills will be called upon as we transition to life after the pandemic and beyond.

Despite the importance of childcare workers at this critical moment, many do not have health coverage to protect them against the virus and address their other health needs. Unfortunately, many of my staff members find themselves in this position as they fall into what is known as the “coverage gap” and do not have an affordable option for health coverage.

Several teachers at my facility have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to the contracting the virus. Combining this increased risk with no health coverage has escalated the fear of the virus and how they would be able to recover if they did become ill.

Some of my teachers did contract COVID-19, but I feel fortunate that none of them ended up in the hospital. However, the mental and physical toll that the virus has taken on them cannot go without mention.

Although my teachers were able to recover from the virus, other childcare workers have not been so lucky. A childcare worker in Wake County died from COVID-19, and I fear that the next victim may be another teacher if North Carolina does not find a solution to close the health insurance coverage gap.

I believe that with this virus, you need a healthy immune system, strong body, and the ability to treat underlying health conditions. My teachers cannot effectively arm themselves against the virus if they cannot tend to their underlying health conditions due to lack of health coverage. 

Prior to the pandemic, I lost two teachers to preventable conditions because they did not have health insurance and could not access care. This virus is ruthless and has revealed the importance of managing underlying conditions. Closing the coverage gap would mean that all of my staff would have access to health care and finally have the ability to address their health needs.

While closing the coverage gap will not eliminate the virus itself, it would at least give frontline workers a fighting chance to recover and continue contributing to their communities.

Cassandra Brooks is the owner of Little Believer’s Academy.

Category iconWinter 2020-2021 Series Tag iconChildcare,  Covid-19/coronavirus,  Frontline Workers

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Care4Carolina
4021 Carya Dr
Raleigh, NC 27610
Phone: (919) 710-0220
Email: care4carolina@gmail.com

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