For Immediate Release
March 3, 2021
RALEIGH, NC - As organizations dedicated to improving the health and well-being of North Carolinians, the NC Medical Society and the NC Nurses Association want to encourage those who are eligible for health insurance coverage through the Marketplace at healthcare.gov to sign up now. The enrollment period has been extended until May 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic, so there is ample opportunity to explore this option and get crucial access to health care during this uncertain time.
“We know that those who do not have health insurance are less likely to seek out routine, preventive care. Being covered for preventive care – and knowing you can get care when you’re feeling sick -- means healthier individuals,” said NCMS President Philip Brown, Jr., MD. “Keeping you out of emergency department is better for you and for the system as a whole, especially during the pandemic.”
All Marketplace plans cover treatment for pre-existing medical conditions and can’t terminate coverage due to a change in health status, including diagnosis or treatment of COVID-19.
“The pandemic has exacerbated existing problems with access to health care. Many of our fellow North Carolinians cannot get the care they need, and this extension gives some of them a chance to seek out the preventive measures they need to stay healthy,” said NCNA President Dennis A. Taylor, RN, DNP, PhD, ACNP-BC, FCCM. “If you are a patient who qualifies for the Marketplace coverage, I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity. And if you are a health care provider, I urge you to make sure your patients know about this extended enrollment period.”
If you do not currently have health insurance, the health care providers in your community encourage you to go to healthcare.gov to consider the affordable options that are right for you and your family before May 15 – for your health!
MEDIA CONTACTS
Elaine A. Ellis
VP, Communication and Marketing
North Carolina Medical Society
(919) 272-4027 (cell)
eellis@ncmedsoc.org
Chris Cowperthwaite, APR
Director of Communications and Outreach
North Carolina Nurses Association
(919) 821-4250
chriscowperthwaite@ncnurses.org
About the North Carolina Medical Society
The North Carolina Medical Society is the oldest professional member organization in North Carolina, representing physicians and physician assistants who practice in the state. Founded in 1849, the Society seeks to provide leadership in medicine by uniting, serving and representing physicians and their health care teams to enhance the health of North Carolinians.
About the North Carolina Nurses Association
As the leading professional organization for North Carolina’s registered nurses, we equip nurses at all stages to thrive in an ever-changing healthcare environment. NCNA helps keep North Carolina nurses on the cutting edge of nursing practice, policy, education, and more. Join us as we work to advance nursing and ensure high-quality healthcare for everyone.
