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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 an Individual

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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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Top 5 Reasons North Carolina Should Close the Coverage Gap Now

November 9, 2021 by Katie Horneffer Leave a Comment

By Katie Horneffer, Intern, Care4Carolina

North Carolina is one of only 12 states that has still not closed its health insurance coverage gap. This means that people who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to qualify for subsidies in the marketplace are left without access to affordable health insurance. 600,000 North Carolinians, the majority of whom are from working families, would gain access to affordable coverage if North Carolina closed the gap today.  Our state leaders are currently negotiating a budget, and it’s imperative that the final budget include a solution to the coverage gap. Here’s why.

Closing the coverage gap would:

  1. Make North Carolinians healthier. Research has proven that closing the gap improves a wide range of health outcomes. With greater access to medication and doctor’s visits, individuals can better manage chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. People are more likely to get treatment for substance use and mental health disorders. Women have better access to healthcare before pregnancy, which in turn improves infant health. People with cancer are diagnosed earlier and have better access to treatment. Most importantly, healthcare access saves lives: nationwide, closing the coverage gap has been associated with at least 19,000 prevented deaths.
  2. Boost North Carolina’s economy. With the new federal funding from the American Rescue Plan, closing the gap would create an estimated 83,000 new jobs in North Carolina, much of which would be in healthcare. These economic effects would trickle out into other sectors as well, ultimately boosting our state’s economy by $34.1 billion from 2022 to 2025. Furthermore, because 63% of adults in the coverage gap are working, closing the gap would help keep our workforce healthy and productive.
  3. Strengthen our state’s healthcare system. Over the past decade, many rural hospitals have been forced to close due to financial instability. The COVID-19 pandemic has stretched hospital budgets even tighter. Uncompensated care for uninsured individuals is one source of financial stress for hospitals. Uninsured patients often can’t afford to pay the high bills from an emergency department visit, so the hospital absorbs the cost. By reducing the amount of uncompensated care, closing the gap can help protect hospitals’ finances: in fact, closing the gap decreases the likelihood of rural hospital closure by 62%. Stronger hospitals means a stronger healthcare system for all North Carolinians, not just those gaining coverage.
  4. Improve North Carolinians’ financial security. When families have health insurance, medical bills are far less likely to cause financial hardship. Access to insurance leads to decreased catastrophic health expenditures and greater increases in income among low-income individuals. Closing the gap has been associated with a $1,140 reduction in medical debt per person gaining coverage. When people are less worried about their health and healthcare costs, they can spend their money and time on other things. For example, the majority of adults gaining coverage in states that have closed their gap report that coverage makes it easier for them to work or look for work. With healthcare coverage, North Carolinians would have more money to spend on food, rent, education, or other necessities.
  5. Be fiscally responsible. Closing the coverage gap is an opportunity to reinvest North Carolinians’ federal tax dollars back into our own state. Currently, the taxes North Carolinians pay to support this federal program are being funneled into 38 other states, but not our own communities. Importantly, nowis the ideal time to close the coverage gap due to increased federal funding under the American Rescue Plan. The increased federal match rate will bring $1.7 billion in federal funding to North Carolina over the next two years. Federal funding could cover the state cost of closing the gap for up to six years while leaving a $400 million surplus that could be used for other state initiatives. Closing the gap isn’t just good for North Carolinians—it’s good for our state’s budget, too.

Improving access to affordable health insurance would have sweeping benefits for the health and finances of our state and its residents. A solution to close the gap is widely popular, with 75% of North Carolina voters in support. North Carolinians recognize the positive impact of closing the health insurance coverage gap. It’s time for our state leaders to do the same.

Category iconWeekly Blog Tag iconCoverage Gap

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