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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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Sign as a Faith Community

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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Close the Coverage Gap–It is not Rocket Science; it is Actuarial Science.

July 20, 2021 by Hailey Gutzmer Leave a Comment

by Peg O’Connell

I am an old insurance lawyer. Yes, I admit it, I am old and I practiced insurance law for many years before becoming a public health advocate.  These are two great confessions that I don’t think are a surprise to anyone.  I care about closing the health insurance coverage gap because it is the right thing to do for improving the health of all North Carolinians and it also the right thing to do to help reduce the health insurance costs for everyone in our state.

Insurance is a business about big numbers. It is not rocket science; it is actuarial science.  The more people who are insured, the bigger the spread of the risk and the less the cost to each individual insured or insurance purchaser. This is one of the many reasons that it is so frustrating that North Carolina is one of the 12 remaining states that has failed to close its coverage gap.  

Those of us who have private insurance, employer sponsored insurance, the State Employees Health Plan, marketplace insurance or even Medicare [that is me, now] pay more for our insurance because we have such a large uninsured population and close to 600,000 in the coverage gap.  Those who have no health insurance still need care—but sadly, they often get it at the last possible moment in the most expensive place—the emergency department.  Much of this care is uncompensated and in order to survive, the cost is passed on to other patients and their health insurers—and the cost of insurance goes up for everybody. 

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. 

This is a big deal! When businesses are looking at setting up shop or relocating to a new state, 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?  

Closing the health insurance coverage gap will help so many working people in the gap, but will also help every employer, Medicare patient, and privately insured person in the state.  It is time North Carolina—it is time to close the gap.

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