Governor Josh Stein has addressed a letter to U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, highlighting the potential negative impacts 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 result in nearly half a million residents losing their health care coverage.
According to recent modeling estimates, 255,000 individuals in North Carolina might lose coverage due to changes in Medicaid provisions within the House bill. A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation indicates that if Marketplace subsidies expire at the end of 2025, as proposed, the number of uninsured people in North Carolina could rise to approximately 470,000.
Governor Stein emphasized the importance of these programs by stating, “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 cuts that would leave many without essential food assistance and health care.
The Governor also noted that over 650,000 residents benefit from Medicaid expansion under enhanced federal matching funds (FMAP). Provisions in the House bill threaten this funding, potentially ending coverage for these individuals immediately.
In March, Governor Stein communicated with Congress regarding proposed Medicaid cuts. He has engaged with citizens across North Carolina to understand how such reductions would affect beneficiaries and healthcare providers. Cuts could significantly impact vulnerable groups like children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
The proposed shift of up to 25 percent of SNAP costs to states would require North Carolina to find $700 million annually or reduce nutrition services. This change could have severe economic repercussions for rural counties already facing financial challenges. SNAP contributes $2.8 billion directly to North Carolina’s economy by supporting local farmers and grocers.
Governor Stein warns that accepting these changes would force difficult decisions between maintaining essential services like food support and health insurance or reallocating resources from public schools and law enforcement.
For more details on Governor Stein’s position or county enrollment data for SNAP programs, readers are encouraged to view his full letter or access related resources online.
