- Piedmont Rising
NEW REPORT: Nearly 30K NC Veterans Would Lose Health Care Coverage if Senators Tillis & Burr Succeed
NEW REPORT: Nearly 30K NC Veterans Would Lose Health Care Coverage if Senators Tillis & Burr Succeed in Repealing the ACA
Analysis Shows How Cutting ACA, Medicaid Would Hurt Veterans
Had Tillis supported expanding Medicaid, 12K NC veterans would have gained coverage
Despite vowing to support America’s veterans, senators’ record on health care jeopardizes critical health coverage for tens of thousands of NC veterans and their families
Raleigh, N.C. – Nearly 30,000 North Carolina veterans – more than enough to pack the Smith Center for a Tar Heels game – would lose health care coverage if Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr succeed in repealing the Affordable Care Act, according to a new report released today by Piedmont Rising.
Further, the report shows that thousands of veterans and their loved ones would gain access to health care if Medicaid were expanded in North Carolina, which has one of the largest military member populations in the country.
Key Points:
27,100 military veterans in North Carolina alone would lose their health insurance if Senators Tillis and Burr were to succeed in repealing the law.
12,000 veterans in North Carolina currently fall in the Medicaid coverage gap and could gain access to health care if Medicaid were expanded.
30,000 veterans and 23,000 veteran family members in North Carolina are uninsured.
Over 370,000 veterans in North Carolina are younger than 65 and do not qualify for Medicare.
Highlights from the report published by Piedmont Rising were previewed during a Virtual Health Care Town Hall Thursday evening on Veterans Health which featured guest panelist, NC Senator, and US Guard National Guard Captain, Jeff Jackson, who commented on the findings.
“There’s something that we could do that would help thousands. Well over 10,000 veterans would gain access to health care if we were to expand Medicaid. So the question is why haven’t we done that?” said Senator Jeff Jackson. “I think reports like this are really useful because they bust the stereotype and the narrative of who is eligible and who would benefit. It would cost the state taxpayers nothing, and we're not doing it, and that's a shame.”
“The least we can do for our brave veterans is to provide them with health care when they return home. But Senators Tillis and Burr have voted repeatedly to take away the health care coverage that veterans and their families depend on – which is simply shameful,” said Piedmont Rising Executive Director, Casey Wilkinson. “Lawmakers love to pledge allegiance to America’s veterans, yet voting records speak louder than words. Our U.S. senators must stop voting to repeal the ACA and jeopardize health care for our veterans and their families.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jessica Coscia
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About Piedmont Rising
Piedmont Rising is a 501 (c)4 issue advocacy organization built by and for North Carolinians to advocate for lower insurance premiums and prescription drug costs and to ensure that more people have access to safe and affordable health care. Through grassroots organizing, education, and engagement, we are amplifying our health care stories and holding our elected officials accountable to the people, and issues they were elected to represent. www.piedmontrising.org