As health care costs rise and coverage remains out of reach for many families, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley has backed policies that would increase costs for North Carolinians and weaken access to care.
Whatley has called for eliminating the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with “market-driven solutions,” arguing that the federal government should step back from health care altogether. He has said the country needs to “get the government out of the way and get back to market-driven solutions on health care.”
That position would directly impact the nearly 670,000 North Carolinians who rely on Affordable Care Act tax credits to afford their health insurance. Health care advocates warn that weakening or eliminating these protections would sharply increase premiums and force many families to drop coverage.
Whatley has also voiced support for legislation that would gut Medicaid, a program that covers seniors, children, people with disabilities, and low-income families across the state. Whatley said he “would have voted for that bill in a heartbeat,” referring to legislation that would cut Medicaid funding.
Health care providers and advocates warn that Medicaid cuts would have devastating consequences for rural communities. Clinics and hospitals in rural North Carolina are already under strain, and further reductions could force closures and leave residents without access to basic care.
Whatley has continued to promote reducing government involvement in health care on social media, reinforcing his support for policies that shift costs onto families and reduce coverage options.
Advocates argue that at a time when families are struggling to afford premiums, prescriptions, and medical bills, North Carolina needs leaders who will protect and expand access to care. Whatley’s record shows support for policies that would raise costs and weaken health care security for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians.
