Pat McCrory’s Health Plan? $57.82 a month.

As a candidate for NC’s governor, Pat McCrory has some strong feelings about health care reform and financial contribution, stating that everyone should be responsible for part of their health care expenses:

There is no free health care. We all must share in the cost.

No argument there.  If you can afford to contribute to your health coverage, you should have to.  One problem for McCrory – the Mayor and City Council of Charlotte are eligible for a government health plan through the city just like other hard-working city employees.  Just how much is Mr. McCrory, as Mayor, required to contribute to his government-run health plan however?  Employee-only coverage costs $57.82 a month.  He can add a dental plan for $6.15 a month. 

Will Pat McCrory advocate for his comprehensive personal level of health coverage at the same cost for anyone in North Carolina?  He had nothing to say in a recent debate about expanding public programs that guarantee all families who work hard an affordable health plan for their children.  In fact he seems more obsessed with “tort reform” – lowering malpractice insurance costs for doctors – than with health reform – lowering health insurance premiums for everyone.

If McCrory doesn’t have a serious, detailed proposal for North Carolinians to have an option for the same level of health coverage available that he enjoys, he should give up his health coverage immediately and join one of the wonderful private health insurance plans he’s presumably prescribing for everyone else.