NEW POLL FINDS MAJORITY OF NORTH CAROLINIANS FAVOR EXPANDING MEDICAID

RALEIGH -- In a new AARP survey of 600 registered North Carolina voters, only 35 percent felt that the state should turn down federal funds that will provide Medicaid coverage to uninsured residents.

The NC Senate is scheduled to vote on a measure that will provide health care to over 500,000 people by expanding Medicaid. Under the new health care law, the federal government would pay the full cost of expansion for the first three years, and at least 90 percent of the costs for the next seven. The debate now moves to the House of Representatives where Governor Pat McCrory has asked leaders to slow down and evaluate the financial ramifications

of the decisions they make .

Currently, North Carolina has 1.5 million residents without health care coverage. 500,000 would be eligible for Medicaid coverage under the new law with over 100,000 between the ages of 50 and 64.

The AARP telephone survey, conducted February 1-3, by Public Policy Polling, echoed some of the economic anxiety voters feel. Nearly half, 48 percent said that they felt that it was likely that they or an immediate member of their family would need Medicaid coverage someday.

The survey’s margin of error is plus or minus 4.

For a full copy of the survey and crosstabs click here: AARPSurveyResults2513

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