Governor Josh Stein has addressed a letter to U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, highlighting the potential repercussions of the U.S. House reconciliation bill on North Carolina families. The bill proposes cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which could lead to nearly half a million North Carolinians losing their healthcare coverage.
Modeling estimates indicate that 255,000 individuals in North Carolina are at risk of losing coverage under the Medicaid provisions alone within the House bill. A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation projects that changes in Medicaid and Marketplace policies could result in approximately 470,000 uninsured residents if Marketplace subsidies expire by the end of 2025.
Governor Stein stated, “Medicaid and SNAP improve the health and well-being of hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, support our economy, and provide critical support to local governments, hospitals, farmers, and grocers.” He urged the Senate to oppose these cuts, emphasizing their impact on rural communities’ access to food assistance and healthcare.
The proposed House bill also threatens enhanced federal matching funds for Medicaid expansion. This could affect over 650,000 beneficiaries in North Carolina who currently rely on expanded Medicaid coverage.
Earlier this year, Governor Stein appealed to Congress against proposed Medicaid cuts. He has engaged with citizens across North Carolina to understand how these cuts might affect vulnerable groups such as children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. These populations depend heavily on Medicaid for their well-being.
The proposals also include shifting up to 25 percent of SNAP costs to states like North Carolina. This shift would require an additional $700 million annually from state funds or result in reduced nutrition services. Such financial burdens could adversely impact rural counties already facing economic challenges. SNAP contributes $2.8 billion directly to North Carolina’s economy by supporting local farmers and grocers.
Governor Stein argues that these federal proposals force difficult decisions between essential food support and health insurance coverage versus funding for public schools, law enforcement, and economic development initiatives.
