Tag: ACA

NC legislators and Governor get free state-paid health coverage

March 11, 2013 at 1:14 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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I’ve gotten lots of questions about health insurance coverage available to state politicians after we published the below picture showing NC Governor Pat McCrory and three members of NC’s part-time General Assembly at the bill signing rejecting billions of dollars from the federal Affordable Care Act for expanding Medicaid to 500,000 North Carolinians.

McCrory with lawmakers signing the No Medicaid Expansion law

McCrory with lawmakers signing the No Medicaid Expansion law

NC’s Governor, a full-time state employee, can get the comprehensive 70/30 state health plan for free or, if he choses to pay $22.76 a month he can get lower cost sharing in the same plan (80/20).   The legislators pictured, Rep Justin Burr (R), Rep Marilyn Avila (R), and Rep Mark Hollo (R) have a very special deal because they are legislators.  In North Carolina, being a legislator is a part-time job – the General Assembly meets about six months every other year with a short three month session in off years. Unlike any other part-time state employee, the legislators pictured all get the same deal as the Governor and other full time state employees – either receive free coverage or pay $22.76 per month and have lower out-of-pocket costs.  Currently 80% to 90% of legislators take this great deal. Too bad they couldn’t bother to provide 500,000 poor North Carolinians with needed health coverage as well.

 

 

N&O Medicaid editorial is on the money

March 8, 2013 at 11:27 amCategory:Uncategorized

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This morning’s editorial in Raleigh’s News & Observer about Gov. McCrory’s stealthy approval of legislation deny Medicaid to half-million or more North Carolinians is on the money and worth your time.

I liked this part best: Read More…

More on the decision of Gov. McCrory’s buddy to expand Medicaid

February 27, 2013 at 11:21 amCategory:Uncategorized

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Chris ChristieLast fall, it seemed as if New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was in North Carolina campaigning for Pat McCrory all the time. Every event featured the two men standing arm in arm and singing each other’s praises.

Oh that Christie would return to North Carolina  today and pound a little common sense into the governorship of the man he helped elect. 

Think Progress has more details on Christie’s decision to accept medicaid expansion:

“’It’s simple. We are putting people first,’ Christie explained in his address. ‘We have an opportunity to ensure that an even greater number of New Jerseyans who are at or near the poverty line will have access to critical health services beginning in January 2014.’ The governor added that the federal government’s funding toward the public insurance program will mean that ‘expanding Medicaid will ensure New Jersey taxpayers will see their dollars maximized.’”

At last report, however,  McCrory remains committed to doing the opposite of his mentor on this critical issue.

Opponents of Medicaid bill to rally, deliver petitions at noon on Capitol grounds

February 15, 2013 at 9:52 amCategory:Uncategorized

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From the good folks at Action NC:

Community leaders challenge McCrory to veto anti-Medicaid expansion bill
Groups say Governor, General Assembly creating huge, irreversible problems for low-income North Carolinians.

Raleigh, NC – A group of community leaders, advocates and Medicaid recipients will gather on the grounds of the state Capitol Building today at noon to call on newly-elected Governor McCrory to push back against the overreaching General Assembly and veto the bill which blocks Medicaid expansion in North Carolina.

“Not only are the Governor and the General Assembly making life needlessly difficult for low-income North Carolinians, but are also rejecting $15 billion for our economy at large,” said Kevin Rogers, Policy and Public Affairs Director for Action NC. “There is absolutely no logical reason to oppose this expansion.” Read More…

John Hood says legislators and the Governor have secret reasons to reject Obamacare

February 15, 2013 at 8:51 amCategory:Uncategorized

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It is safe to assume that John Hood, president of the John Locke Foundation, has easy access to Gov. Pat McCrory and legislative leaders in Raleigh. That means he has more insight than the rest of us into what motivates Republican lawmakers. That is why I found his column today interesting.

Hood explains to the rest of us why Republicans rejected a health benefits exchange and the Medicaid expansion. Just to be technically correct, the legislature did not reject a state exchange this session. It’s too late to set up a state exchange for 2014. Instead, they decided to surrender state functions we are already performing to the federal government. Now back to the point of this post. Hood says the reason Gov. McCrory and the legislature do not want a state exchange is because they buy into a slightly wacky legal theory pushed by the Cato Institute that says in a federal exchange people can’t get subsidies and the employer and individual penalties don’t apply.

Let’s set aside the legal reasoning here. Most lawyers reject this idea, but with our current Supreme Court I don’t take anything for granted.

What is more intriguing about the column is Read More…