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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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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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Medical debt is crippling North Carolinians; Medicaid Expansion will help

November 18, 2022 by Abby Emanuelson Leave a Comment

By Peg O’Connell, Chair, Care4Carolina

Days before Sam, a young woman of Eastern North Carolina, was scheduled to serve, the U.S. military refused to enlist Sam due to a few hundred dollars due to medical providers.  Unaware of her medical debt, Sam suddenly had no job or place to live – all because she was in North Carolina’s health insurance coverage gap. 

This is how I came to learn of Sam’s situation and was lucky to get to know her. It was her dream to serve in the armed services.  She had a difficult childhood and cared for her younger sister. As her sister’s high school graduation drew near, Sam knew it would soon be her time to enlist. She kept herself in good physical shape, studied hard and took the tests. She scored well. She was working with her recruiter all along.

As the day approached to depart for basic training, Sam quit her civilian job, gave up the lease on her apartment and said goodbye to friends and family. But the military, having just learned of Sam’s medical debt, turned her away. The promising young woman’s dreams were shattered.
The issue of medical debt is usually a story of numbers and all of these numbers are important, but as you can see from Sam’s situation, the issue of medical debt is also a personal one and impacts thousands of people in North Carolina.  

According to a study by Georgetown University, North Carolina has one of the highest levels of medical debt in the country. Three of the top five counties for medical debt are here—Greene, Lenoir and Anson counties.  

One of the reasons that North Carolina finds itself in this dubious leadership position is our failure to expand Medicaid. Seventy-nine of the 100 counties with the highest level of medical debt are in states that have not expanded their Medicaid programs. 

Every year in the United States, an estimated 530,000 families turn to bankruptcy because of lost work from medical issues and the associated bills.  Many of these families are here in North Carolina.  

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, Medicaid expansion “significantly reduced the number of unpaid non-medical bills and the amount of non-medical debt sent to third-party collection agencies.” Expanding health coverage for people caught in the gap not only provides access to health care without the risk of bankruptcy, but it also helps people keep up with all their other expenses like housing and buying food.

The story of Sam is shocking and heartbreaking, but it is not just the story of one young woman.  This is the story of 600,000 North Carolinians. Unplanned medical expenses or an emergency room visit can ruin people’s lives.  Unpaid medical expenses go on credit reports and prevent people from getting jobs, decent housing and transportation.  For our state, this is a shame.  We know how to fix this problem, and now we simply have to find the will to do it. 

As for Sam, she may yet get to join the military and achieve her dream.  With the help of some friends, she has been able to pay off her medical debts and is studying to take the military entrance exams again.  She has a shot at a bright future.  But what about the 600,000 other North Carolinians. We now must expand Medicaid for them. 

Category iconUpdates Tag iconCoverage Gap,  Medicaid Expansion,  Medical debt

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