Please join Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Bishop Louis Kihneman, III of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi, Bishop Brian Seage of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, Bishop James Swanson of the Mississippi Conference of The United Methodist Church, along with leaders of other denominations and clergy and pastors throughout the state of Mississippi, in support of affordable healthcare. We, along with Working Together Mississippi, support efforts to provide affordable health insurance to approximately 300,000 adults without health insurance in our state. These adults fall into the “gap.” More than half of these adults have jobs, but their employers do not provide health insurance. And while they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, they do not earn enough to purchase insurance, or to qualify for assistance with their premiums through the Affordable Care Act.
The MS-Care Plan proposed by the Mississippi Hospital Association would provide health insurance to adults in the “gap”. It would also reduce by 40-50% the $660 million in uncompensated care provided annually by Mississippi hospitals, thus helping to save rural hospitals that are in danger of bankruptcy and closure. No doubt, there will be other plans proposed during the 2021 Legislative Session. However, whatever plan is adopted should provide health insurance to all adults in the “gap” and help save our rural hospitals; saving rural hospitals saves rural communities.
Thank you for reading this. Please pray about it and see if you can participate. It will be good for our Parishioners, our City of Canton, our Hospitals and for the State of Mississippi.
Fr. Mike O’Brienhttps://m.facebook.com/sacredheartcantonms/live