North Carolina Must Expand Medicaid Now to Protect its Workers

As the COVID-19 crisis worsens, it is especially vital that all Americans have health insurance coverage to access testing and treatment. Yet many working North Carolinians are rapidly losing their jobs and their job-based health insurance. Because North Carolina has not expanded its Medicaid program, people who lose their job-based health insurance typically have no good options for staying covered. Even North Carolinians who continue to work in essential industries during the COVID-19 crisis may not have health coverage if they do not get health insurance through their employer.

Medicaid expansion could significantly address this access issue and support North Carolina’s workers, but the state must act quickly. Now more than ever, hardworking North Carolinians need Medicaid coverage. The legislature must come together and pass emergency legislation to expand Medicaid immediately.