Dire Need for Medicaid

Expanding access to health care is desperately needed in North Carolina. About 12.9% of the state population is living without health insurance which puts the lives and longevity of working families in jeopardy.

Many North Carolinians without health insurance fall into the “Medicaid Coverage Gap,” where they cannot afford to purchase health insurance without fear of bankruptcy. Expanding Medicaid is needed to close this gap and reduce the amount of North Carolinians whose health remains unprotected and in danger.

Despite these incentives and the urgent need for Medicaid expansion, Legislative Republicans have been focused on partisan politics instead of prioritizing the health of their voters.

Thanks to Democrats the 2021 budget included a provision that requires lawmakers to study Medicaid expansion, which resulted in the creation of the Joint Legislative Committee on Access to Healthcare and Medicaid expansion.

The committee met for the first time Friday, February 18. I hope that they come to the conclusion that health care is a human right. Democrats have proven their commitment to expanding access to health care, it’s long overdue for Republicans to step up and protect all of our citizens.