As has been widely reported, today, December 1st, marks the day North Carolina becomes the 40th state to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
About 300,000 adults who didn't have health insurance yesterday now do. And 300,000 more people could gain coverage in the coming months if authorities, health care providers and nonprofits do an effective job of outreach and enrollment.
Gov. Roy Cooper, who has made Medicaid expansion a top policy priority in the Governor's Mansion for nearly seven years, is in Charlotte today with Health and Human Services Secretary Cody Kinsley, doctors, advocates, and new enrollees to advocate for the creation of Medicaid. We are planning to celebrate. Accomplished.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden, who worked closely with the Cooper administration to overcome Republican opposition to government expansion, noted the news in a subsequent White House statement.
President Joe Biden's Statement on Implementing North Carolina's Medicaid Expansion
All Americans have the right to quality, affordable health care. Today, 600,000 North Carolinians are one step closer to fulfilling that promise by gaining access to the affordable, quality coverage they need under Medicaid. Thanks to Governor Roy Cooper's long-standing leadership and collaboration with bipartisan elected officials, North Carolina became the 40th state to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Her 300,000 people in North Carolina will receive this coverage immediately, and the state's rural hospitals will be able to keep their doors open and continue caring for their communities.
Despite this progress, MAGA Republicans still want to repeal the Affordable Care Act, just as my predecessors have repeatedly tried and failed. He said there are 40 million people who have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, and their health care would be at risk if the law were repealed. Repeal of the Affordable Care Act means states, including North Carolina, will no longer be able to provide health care through Medicaid expansion.
Let's strengthen the Affordable Care Act, not repeal it. Let's work together to lower health care and prescription drug costs for Americans and expand Medicaid in the remaining 10 states. And to those who want to repeal this life-saving law, let me be clear: I will not allow that to happen on my watch.
