[the following is an op/ed letter submitted by Wilkes County Democrats Chairman, Larry Pendry to The Wilkes Journal Patriot on 11/4/2015.]
As we enter into the 90-day Open Season period for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, I am reminded that Virginia Foxx warned us almost 6 years ago that our seniors would be subject to “death panels” under this law.
How ironic that part of her prediction may come true for some of the estimated 2800 citizens living here in Wilkes County that have no health insurance. The North Carolina General Assembly failed to expand Medicaid and put not only low income seniors, but all of these lives at a greater risk of some catastrophic illness or death.
Both Senator Randleman and Representative Elmore have previously voted against expanding health care for the less fortunate leaving all of us to pick up the higher costs. Predictably, HB 330 legislation to expand health insurance was pushed to committee this session and Senator Randleman voted in favor of HB 372 that privatizes Medicaid so that corporations can get their cut off the top. According to the General Assembly website, Representative Elmore had an excused absence on 9.22.15 when HB 372 was passed. Whatever happened to the “compassionate conservatives”?
And if our representatives do not care about the health of low income citizens, do they not care about the health of the Wilkes Regional Medical Center? Rural hospitals in general have big financial problems, and it would be a great help to our Hospital if every last one of those folks who come into the emergency room had some kind of health insurance to pay the Hospital.
~ Larry Pendry
North Wilkesboro, NC
As we enter into the 90-day Open Season period for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, I am reminded that Virginia Foxx warned us almost 6 years ago that our seniors would be subject to “death panels” under this law.
How ironic that part of her prediction may come true for some of the estimated 2800 citizens living here in Wilkes County that have no health insurance. The North Carolina General Assembly failed to expand Medicaid and put not only low income seniors, but all of these lives at a greater risk of some catastrophic illness or death.
Both Senator Randleman and Representative Elmore have previously voted against expanding health care for the less fortunate leaving all of us to pick up the higher costs. Predictably, HB 330 legislation to expand health insurance was pushed to committee this session and Senator Randleman voted in favor of HB 372 that privatizes Medicaid so that corporations can get their cut off the top. According to the General Assembly website, Representative Elmore had an excused absence on 9.22.15 when HB 372 was passed. Whatever happened to the “compassionate conservatives”?
And if our representatives do not care about the health of low income citizens, do they not care about the health of the Wilkes Regional Medical Center? Rural hospitals in general have big financial problems, and it would be a great help to our Hospital if every last one of those folks who come into the emergency room had some kind of health insurance to pay the Hospital.
~ Larry Pendry
North Wilkesboro, NC