Almost two years ago, the new federal legislation that starts to fix our health system, the Affordable Care Act, was passed into law. Health care is such a large and complicated part of our economy that beginning the needed fixes has been almost like watching an oil tanker negotiate a three-point turn in [Continue Reading...]
Recently in Wilmington I met a friendly, outspoken older woman named Sylvia Colbert. Ms. Colbert is very active in her community and gets her health care through both the federal Medicare program and North Carolina’s Medicaid program. As an older adult with a low income, she qualifies for North Carolina Medicaid as a [Continue Reading...]
…Even if they don’t know it A special N.C. Health Access Coalition report By Brenna Burch and Adam Searing Medicaid is a state-federal program that functions as a primary social safety net for many middle-class North Carolina families—families that as the result of old age, injury, disease, or catastrophic event face medical and long-term care [Continue Reading...]
With North Carolina facing an estimated $3.7 billion deficit, our state faces some hard choices. But just because cuts to government services are necessary is no reason to abandon our state values of shared sacrifice and protection of the most vulnerable. As individuals, North Carolinians didn’t create the recession that is the major [Continue Reading...]
Ah, campaign time. Many would-be state lawmakers are trumpeting their desire to slash government spending. For some reason, however, the rhetoric about cutting costs doesn’t feature any real specifics on how candidates would actually fill the projected three-billion dollar state budget deficit without hurting crucial state services or raising taxes. [Continue Reading...]
Before the ink dried on the Affordable Care Act, opponents launched a politically-motivated campaign to undermine the new health care law, including filing federal lawsuits in Florida and Virginia challenging it. The Virginia case will be argued on October 18th, and a ruling on procedural issues is expected in the Florida case around the same time. [Continue Reading...]
North Carolinians stand to benefit from national health reform in many ways. Already, children under age 26 can stay on their parent’s private health plans, small businesses are exploring the thousands of dollars in tax credits available if they provide health coverage, and a new federal “high-risk pool” will start on July 1, offering coverage to those uninsured with pre-existing health conditions. [Continue Reading...]
With the congress health reform debate in full force, it’s time to take a close look at what these bills will do – not only to expand coverage and contain costs but also to improve the quality of our health care. [Continue Reading...]
Last Friday at the Progressive Pulse, we reported on NC Blue Cross’ statewide nasty postcard campaign aimed at Senator Hagan. The postcards are meant for people to fill out and are postage paid to go to Hagan’s office with a message against a public health care option and “government-run” health care. [Continue Reading...]
North Carolina’s health plan for state workers is in trouble. Estimates differ, but shortfalls may be in the tens of millions, and health plan administrator Jack Walker recently called for a $300 million taxpayer bailout in addition to sharply higher premiums, co-pays and deductibles for state employees. [Continue Reading...]
It’s no secret that affording health care is a top issue for North Carolinians. Workers in North Carolina are losing coverage through their employers at nearly twice the national rate. Since the year 2000, health plan premium rates have risen 5.3 times faster than wages in North Carolina – meaning skyrocketing health costs have eaten up raises for years for many workers. [Continue Reading...]
Amid the growing health care crisis, at least one group of workers is enjoying decent health care coverage – North Carolina’s elected officials. The Health Access Coalition conducted a survey of the health care plans for elected leaders in North Carolina – from city council members to the governor. [Continue Reading...]
Pat McCrory, Republican candidate for Governor, is proposing health reforms that he says would help implement his belief that all North Carolinians deserve “affordable, high quality health care.” The goal is admirable, although it’s hard to find a politician anywhere these days who thinks our health system is fine and people should keep paying more for coverage. [Continue Reading...]
Two new statewide polls show a virtual tie in the race for U.S. Senate between incumbent Senator Elizabeth Dole and Democratic challenger Kay Hagan, a state senator from Greensboro. This is obviously sparking some worry over at the Dole campaign, where Dole’s name recognition and millions in donations have perhaps made her a little overconfident about victory. [Continue Reading...]
