Governor Josh Stein has reached out to U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, urging them to oppose the U.S. House reconciliation bill due to its potential negative impact on North Carolina families. The bill proposes cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which could result in nearly half a million residents losing their health care coverage.
Modeling estimates indicate that 255,000 individuals in North Carolina are at risk of losing coverage solely due to changes in Medicaid outlined in the House bill. A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation projects that if both Medicaid and Marketplace subsidies expire as planned by the end of 2025, the number of uninsured people in North Carolina could rise to approximately 470,000.
Governor Stein emphasized the importance of these programs: “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 Senate members to oppose cuts that would particularly affect rural communities by reducing access to food assistance and healthcare services.
The proposed legislation includes provisions that might threaten enhanced federal matching funds for Medicaid expansion. This change could potentially eliminate health insurance for over 650,000 beneficiaries under Medicaid expansion in North Carolina.
In response to these concerns, Governor Stein has previously communicated with Congress about reconsidering proposed Medicaid cuts. His engagements with residents across the state have highlighted how such reductions would affect vulnerable groups including children, seniors, and those with disabilities.
Furthermore, shifting up to 25 percent of SNAP costs onto states would require North Carolina to find $700 million annually or face cutting essential nutrition services. Such financial pressures could severely impact rural counties already facing economic challenges. SNAP contributes $2.8 billion directly into North Carolina’s economy while supporting various sectors like farming and grocery distribution.
Governor Stein’s letter outlines these concerns comprehensively as he seeks Senate intervention against what he describes as “unprecedented cuts.”
