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Care4Carolina

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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 Civic Leader

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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 gap to support recovery from natural disasters

September 13, 2022 by Hannah Robinson Leave a Comment

By Brittney Lofthouse, Western Regional Coordinator, Care4Carolina

As one of the most vulnerable states in the US, all regions of North Carolina have suffered the effects of natural disasters. Such was the case just over a year ago in Western North Carolina when Tropical Storm Fred unleashed havoc across the West, specifically devastating the Cruso, Bethel, and Canton areas of Haywood County. Even a year later, recovery is still underway in Haywood County, shining light on how access to healthcare is as important to the recovery process after a natural disaster as is drudging through mounds of muck to retrieve family heirlooms to salvage while fighting to rebuild one’s life. 

The August 2021 damage to Haywood County was, and very much still is, catastrophic. The dark clouds that rolled into the West as part of Tropical Storm Fred poured record amounts of rainfall into the creeks and rivers, all of which happened so fast residents barely had time to save themselves, let alone their homes. The flood claimed the life of five people, with hundreds more impacted.

Because North Carolina has such a calculated history of adverse weather, the state was better prepared to swiftly respond to Haywood County’s disaster declaration. Learning from past disasters such as Hurricane Ida and even Hurricane Katrina that destroyed Louisiana, state leaders were in Haywood County to help pick up the pieces nearly as fast as Tropical Storm Fred unleashed its furry — however, crucial tools needed for recovery – affordable access to healthcare through expansion of Medicaid was and is not available to Haywood County residents.

Natural disasters can lead to a host of health problems. The most obvious one is serious injury: after Hurricane Irene hit North Carolina in 2011, the most affected regions saw a 45% increase in injury-related emergency department visits. But there can also be longer-term impacts. Respiratory illnesses increase in the months following a hurricane, likely due to mold growth in flooded buildings. Natural disasters can make it harder for people to manage chronic health conditions. They can also lead to an increase in infections: skin and gastrointestinal infections can spread through floodwaters, while overcrowded shelters can lead to outbreaks of illnesses like COVID-19 or flu. And flooding can lead to the spread of toxic environmental contaminants. After Hurricane Florence in 2018, researchers found dangerous levels of cancer-causing chemicals in North Carolina’s soil.

Mental health, too, can suffer after a natural disaster. Hurricane survivors experience higher rates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety, which can last months or years after the disaster. Ten months after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, 31% of survivors reported a new mental health problem, but only 8% were receiving mental health services, with cost cited as the main barrier.

Natural disasters can also lead to job loss and economic hardship. Restaurants, hotels, and construction sites may close due to damage, while farmers’ crops may be destroyed in floods. In the week following Hurricane Florence, North Carolina unemployment claims quintupled. Yet because North Carolina hasn’t closed its coverage gap, many of those who lose their income during an emergency can’t access affordable health insurance.

As Western North Carolina — and the rest of the state — brace for the peak of Hurricane Season, we need to ensure that all North Carolinians can access needed healthcare in case of an emergency. By closing our coverage gap now, we’ll bolster our state’s capacity to respond to health needs in the aftermath of future disasters.

Category iconUpdates Tag iconMedicaid Expansion,  Natural Disaster

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