Press Release: NAACP Responds to Coup Attempt
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

  • Voices
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Members
    • Covenant Partners
    • Issue Statements
    • Governing Board
  • Programs
    • Ecumenical Immigration Alliance
      • Ideas for Action
      • Sign Our Statement
      • The NC Sanctuary Coalition
      • Immigration Bible Study
      • Contact
    • NC Interfaith Power & Light
      • NCIPL Overview
      • Faith in Action NCIPL
      • NCIPL Articles
      • NCIPL Resources
      • Upcoming Events for NCIPL
      • Contact NCIPL
    • Partners in Health & Wholeness
      • PHW Staff
      • Mini-Grants
      • PHW Collaborative Pledge
      • The Opioid Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
      • PHW Articles
      • FAQs
  • Priorities
    • Racial Justice
    • The Opioid Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
    • Gun Violence Prevention
    • Public Education
    • NC Sanctuary Coalition
    • Farmworkers
    • Legislative Advocacy
    • Christian Unity
    • Peace
    • NC No Torture
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • Events
  • Resources
    • Publications & Reports
    • Raleigh Report
    • Lectionary
    • Sermons
  • Donate
  • Council Store
  • Show Search

Search NC Council of Churches

Hide Search

Vetting the Vote: Medicaid Expansion

Chris Pernell, Director, Partners in Health and Wholeness · September 21, 2018 · Leave a Comment

With every seat in the NC General Assembly being contested this year, the Nov 6, 2018 midterm will have effects lasting decades. Of the many issues at stake, recent polls indicate growing public support of Medicaid expansion.

In NC, the long debated matter of Medicaid expansion sits among the top issues. As insurance premiums rise, prescription medications become too expensive for even those who are insured, and as the uninsured rate grows, many people are beginning to ask questions. What do the 34 states that have expanded Medicaid know that NC doesn’t? Why are Florida, Maine, Idaho, and Utah, placing expansion on the midterm ballot this year? Most importantly, are the reasons NC has chosen to be one of only 13 states not considering expansion or already expanded, reasons that serve the people? With Medicaid expansion, an estimated 650,000 of our brothers and sisters would become eligible for health services in our state. (kff.org 2018).

Currently Medicaid coverage in NC serves the elderly, disabled, and children. However, eligibility is determined by very restrictive income levels. Elderly, blind, and disabled people cannot have incomes higher than approx. $16,000 for a couple. Parents with minor children must have an annual income lower than 44% of the federal poverty level and adults without dependent children are not eligible at all.

Expanding Medicaid will provide coverage to the over half a million people in NC who fall in the gap – making too much to qualify for the existing Medicaid program but not enough to be eligible for the federal subsidies included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The consequences of continuing to reject expansion are also economic. It’s correct there will be a cost to expand. Estimates put that cost at approx. 3 billion dollars between 2013-2022. Not expanding is estimated to cost NC $39.6 billion dollars in the same time period. Costs are attributed in part to higher health care due to continued overuse of emergency rooms and sicker patients due to complications that many times could have been avoided; lost jobs in the public and private sector, and an overall less productive workforce.

The NC Council of Churches called for health care for all over twenty years ago. The Gospels are rich with examples of Jesus caring for people and healing the sick. If we are followers of the Gospel and the commandments, how can we not be leading the efforts to extend life saving care for the blind, lame, and leprous of our day? “Freely you have received, freely give” Matthew 10:8.

It is our calling to act, prophetically and quickly, before protections are further eroded and more of our brothers, sisters, parents, and children are harmed from a lack of basic healthcare.

Take action. Vote.

Resources with bipartisan information about healthcare in the US and NC:

  • Candidate questionnaire
  • www.ncchurches.org (Search healthcare)
  • www.ncjustice.org/?q=medicaidexpansion
  • www.kff.org/health-reform

The State Board also wants to remind voters of their voting options in North Carolina. Any registered voter may: 

  • Vote by mail (no excuse is needed)
  • Vote during the in-person early voting period from October 17 through November 3, or 
  • Vote on Election Day, November 6. The regular voter registration deadline is 5 p.m. October 12. Eligible individuals may also register during the early voting period.


Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Health, Healthcare Reform, medicaid, vettingthevote

Chris Pernell, Director, Partners in Health and Wholeness

About Chris Pernell, Director, Partners in Health and Wholeness

Chris is a native Kentuckian and the daughter of missionary parents who served Eastern Kentucky for more than 40 years. She relocated to North Carolina in 1981 and has come to call NC home. Prior to coming to the Council, she spent several years in corporate America before joining a faith-based, nonprofit medical clinic serving the uninsured and under-served of Franklin County. Chris is excited to be a part of the Council’s PHW program where she can utilize her background in health care and service. She and her husband have two children, a cat, a dog, and a surprisingly friendly bearded dragon. In her free time, Chris enjoys reading, basketball, and traveling, especially to the mountains.

Reader Interactions

More Like This

Mental Health and Race: Barriers, Ideas, & Sacred Work (Part III)
Blessed are those who continue to mourn
Mental Health and Race: Barriers, Ideas, & Sacred Work (Part II)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anonymous comments or comments that target individuals will not be posted (please include your first and last name). All comments must be on topic and respectful. Comments will not be posted until they have been reviewed by a moderator. Comments do not reflect the positions of the NC Council of Churches.

Footer

Contact

NC Council of Churches
27 Horne St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 828-6501
info@ncchurches.org

Facebook

Partners in Health and Wholeness

Featured

Vetting the Vote: Medicaid Expansion

Latest Tweets

Are you interested in Christian unity, peace, and social justice? Do you know someone who is? Share this post and stay updated on what is coming up this year by signing up for our weekly newsletter! ncchurches.org/email…

About 3 days ago

The 2021 MLK Brochure edition from @democracync features info about voting in local elections this year, advocating for fair & transparent redistricting, and more. Follow the link to get these brochures! docs.google.com/form…

About 3 days ago

RT @NCPolicyWatch The real perpetrators of fraud regarding the 2020 election shar.es/ao4BUi via @NCPolicyWatch #NCPOL #NCGA #ElectionIntegrity #Trump @ncchurches

About 3 days ago

RT @healthandfaith Join us, @ncdhhs, and @ncchurches next Friday for a webinar focused on the COVID-19 Vaccine roll out. We will discuss the process and how faith communities can get involved. Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meet… #MindfulTogether pic.twitter.com/Nm90…

About 3 days ago

"The United States Congress, a week after the nation’s Capitol was overrun by a violent mob while lawmakers were carrying out one of their paramount duties, now faces a paramount challenge.." Read more from this Raleigh Report by Steve Ford. ncchurches.org/2021/…

About 4 days ago

Follow @ncchurches

Latest Tweets

Awesome things to come this year - subscribe and stay in touch! #MindfulTogether twitter.com/ncchurch…

About 2 days ago

So important and needed. You are so loved. twitter.com/NAMINCar…

About 3 days ago

Join us, @ncdhhs, and @ncchurches next Friday for a webinar focused on the COVID-19 Vaccine roll out. We will discuss the process and how faith communities can get involved. Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meet… #MindfulTogether pic.twitter.com/Nm90…

About 3 days ago

Check it out! twitter.com/CityofDu…

About 5 days ago

Don't forget to register for our final Becoming a Trauma-Informed Faith Community webinar next Tuesday. Join this whole-person driven conversation as we support and honor one another's stories and experiences. Register here: ow.ly/xNNI50D3lHp #mentalhealth #MindfulTogether pic.twitter.com/mtZM…

About a week ago

Follow @healthandfaith

Latest Tweets

RT @interfaithpower Join IPL Jan 19 for a free screening of the short film Unbreathable, followed by webinar: The EPA and Clean Air in 2021. Register: bit.ly/unbreathable @episcopalchurch @LungAssociation @faithinplace @alinterfaithpl @iowaipl @NCIPL @VAIPL @NewMexicoIPL @GeorgiaIPL pic.twitter.com/yDlx…

About 3 days ago

RT @CCLTriangle This is the jobs engine the country needs @SenThomTillis @SenatorBurr @GKButterfield @DeborahRossNC: 81% of additional generating capacity in the USA last year was solar, wind or battery. Great news. Please make sure the percentage rises this year! eia.gov/todayinenerg… pic.twitter.com/zarU…

About 5 days ago

RT @interfaithpower Join IPL Jan 19 for a free screening of the short film Unbreathable, followed by webinar: The EPA and Clean Air in 2021. Register: bit.ly/unbreathable @episcopalchurch @LungAssociation @faithinplace @alinterfaithpl @iowaipl @NCIPL @VAIPL @NewMexicoIPL @GeorgiaIPL pic.twitter.com/zSKE…

Last week

RT @noel_johnny Oil & gas corporations, including Chevron and Exxon, have donated a total of $5.4 million to the seven Senators who voted to overturn the presidential election and bolstered a violent, failed attempted coup by pro-Trump extremists. greenpeace.org/usa/n…. #RemoveOrResign

Last week

RT @UniteThePoor Nine moral witnesses with the #PoorPeoplesCampaign were arrested on June 12, 2018 for praying for repentance & justice on the steps of the US Supreme Court. They were taken to jail & held till the following day. #TBT 📷: #HopeInFocus pic.twitter.com/66Zn…

About 2 weeks ago

Follow @ncipl

Latest Tweets

Copyright © 2021 NC Council of Churches · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design · Hosted by WP Engine