How Closing the Coverage Gap Helps Western North Carolina

Closing the Coverage Gap Will Help Protect Workers in Western North Carolina. Period.

In 14 counties in North Carolina, over 20% of low-wage workers are uninsured. 8 of those counties are in western NC:

• Cherokee – 25.1%
• Clay – 23.2%
• Swain – 22.9%
• Macon – 21.7%
• Graham – 26.1%
• Transylvania – 20.5%
• Yancey – 22.1%
• Avery – 27.1%

Closing the coverage gap increases access to affordable health care.

About 58,792 North Carolinians in WNC would gain access to affordable health coverage by closing the coverage gap.

Greater access to health insurance means a healthier Western North Carolina.

• The single greatest factor in determining if you will survive a cancer diagnosis is whether you have health insurance.

“If you are uninsured, and you are diagnosed with cancer, you have a 60% greater chance of dying from cancer than if you were insured and diagnosed with cancer.” – Dr. Otis Brawley, former Chief Medical Officer, American Cancer Society

• Heart disease patients in the coverage gap have poorer management of their conditions and are at a greater risk of mortality.
• Closing the coverage gap is associated with a 6% lower rate in total opioid overdose deaths because of increased access to treatment.