By Peg O’Connell, Chair, Care4Carolina
Dear Santa, it is me again. I know that I am starting to sound like a broken record, but could you please, please bring North Carolina Medicaid Expansion for Christmas. We’ve all worked so hard this past year but we sure could use your help to finally get a plan that could help 600,000 of our neighbors and friends find an affordable way to get health insurance. I think we have been very good this year.
The North Carolina Senate passed a bill that would have closed the coverage gap. The support in the Senate was almost unanimous and Senate Pro Tempore Phil Berger gave an impassioned speech about the importance of finding a solution for working people in this state who don’t have any options for affordable health insurance. He said that the time is now. Senator Berger definitely deserves some extra candy canes in their stockings!
The North Carolina House also passed a bill that would have created a pathway to expand Medicaid. The support in the House, led by Speaker Moore, was also near unanimous. All members of the North Carolina General Assembly that voted to close the coverage gap should receive a visit from you and an extra gift for their courage and caring for those in our state who work hard every day to support their families but simply can’t afford to buy expensive private health insurance.
And if you could also swing by the Governor’s Mansion, that would be great. Governor Cooper has been a tireless advocate for Medicaid Expansion. He deserves a big present with a big bow.
You see Santa, we have been awfully good this year, we just need a little of your Christmas magic to get us over the finish line. Care4Carolina will be there to help you, in case you can’t find the right chimney. Please bring us Medicaid Expansion for Christmas. You will make 600,000 North Carolinians very happy AND I promise I won’t ask for anything ever again.