Advocacy for the Poor

Since 2007, as a result of the economic recession, the rate of North Carolina’s uninsured population has increased faster than that of any other state in the country. Approximately 1.8 million North Carolinians have no health insurance.
- Each week, approximately 1,480 North Carolinians will lose their health insurance coverage.
In Forsyth County 16.5% of residents are uninsured.
- 11.8% of Forsyth County children (ages 0-17) are uninsured, compared to the peer counties average of 9.9%.
Approximately 8 in 10 people who are uninsured come from working families. With the rising cost of premiums and the economic downturn, even those who are employed can not always afford their co-payments, resulting in many workers losing their health insurance.
- From 2000-2007, employer-based family health insurance premiums in North Carolina increased 5.3 times faster than median family incomes.
Due to pervasive unemployment rates, many who were once covered by an employer’s healthcare plan are now facing the reality of making ends meet. Health insurance often takes a backseat to the higher priority of fulfilling basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter.
- The average monthly unemployment benefits a person receives is $1,437. The average health care premium for a family is $1,057. This means an unemployed head of household would pay roughly 74% of his/her income just for health insurance.

The Consequences

Uninsured people generally are not able to get medical issues treated in a timely manner or sustain prolonged treatment leading to an increased number of medical crises, which incurs higher costs for the community as a whole.

Public hospitals, teaching hospitals, and many nonprofit community hospitals incur heavy operating losses from caring for the large number of uninsured people.

In Forsyth County, Novant Health and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center provide more than $600 million in free care.

Ultimately, higher taxes and higher prices, incurred by the community, pay for the costs of caring for the uninsured.

People without health insurance are four times more likely to experience an avoidable emergency room or hospital visit.
Medical bills are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy filings.
Low-income adults are three times more likely than wealthier adults to suffer from a chronic disease.
Children from low-income families are seven times more likely to have poor or fair health compared to children from wealthier families.
Uninsured women with breast cancer have a risk of dying that is between 30 and 50 percent higher than the risk for women with private coverage.

Taking Action

Advocacy for the Poor takes every opportunity on a national, state and local level to support efforts that increase insurance coverage for all people --- but especially the children. The quality of health care they receive at early age can impact the rest of their lives. We believe that the best health outcomes are possible when health insurance coverage:

Is continuous
Ensures adequate provider participation
Includes preventive and screening services, outpatient prescription drugs and specialty mental health
Covers whole families

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