FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, September 28, 2020
CONTACT: Liz Doherty
NEW SPOT: North Carolina Needs to “Do Better” and Expand Medicaid Now
“Dan Forest is okay leaving half a million people behind in the middle of a pandemic.”
RALEIGH — Today, Cooper for NC released a new spot, “Do Better,” highlighting the pressing need to expand Medicaid to cover the half a million North Carolinians who fall in the coverage gap.
The pandemic has underscored the urgency to expand Medicaid. Medicaid expansion would provide coverage for over half a million North Carolinians, including people laid off during the pandemic. Expansion would also boost the economy by $4 billion, create 40,000 jobs, and save rural hospitals at no additional cost to the state.
39 states have expanded Medicaid, including Indiana when Mike Pence was governor. But, Dan Forest and Republican legislators have blocked Medicaid expansion at every turn, denying 500,000 North Carolinians health insurance.
Liz Doherty, Cooper for NC spokesperson, said, “Dan Forest is okay with leaving half a million North Carolinians behind and denying them health care coverage in the middle of a pandemic. North Carolinians deserve a leader who will put health and safety first.”
TRANSCRIPT:
Half a million North Carolinians. That’s how many of our neighbors are being denied health insurance.
Veterans, essential workers, people laid off during the pandemic.
As Governor, I’m determined to expand Medicaid like 39 other states have already done, including Indiana when Mike Pence was governor.
Dan Forest is okay leaving half a million people behind in the middle of a pandemic. I’m not.
We have to do better in North Carolina.
###