By Laura Meier, Mark Jarrell and Susan Rodriguez-McDowell
The Charlotte Post, Feb. 3, 2026
In September, the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners took an important stand for our community’s health and economic stability by passing a unanimous resolution in support of the Medicare for All Act of 2025.
This was not a partisan gesture, but a reflection of our community values.
This decision was backed by doctors, nurses, faith leaders, labor unions, and residents across the County who see firsthand what happens when families cannot afford the care they need. Mecklenburg County now joins more than 135 local governments nationwide and five in North Carolina that have called for this essential reform, including Greensboro, Durham, Carrboro, and Orange County.
Less than two years ago, our state finally expanded Medicaid, a bipartisan success that extended health coverage to 650,000 of our neighbors. But progress is fragile. Recent actions at the federal level have rolled back healthcare and nutrition assistance while rewarding the wealthiest among us. Meanwhile, because of the failure to renew Affordable Care Act subsidies, nearly 900,000 North Carolinians, many of whom live and work in Mecklenburg County, will see an average rate increase of 30%. About 157,000 of those will lose coverage entirely.
When funding gaps and policy stalemates occur, local communities like ours pay the price. Clinics close, hospitals struggle, and families delay care, increasing the risk that minor health issues become major emergencies. Even nonprofit hospitals face razor-thin margins, forcing administrators to make decisions driven more by reimbursement formulas than by patient outcomes.
The current healthcare system is fragmented by design, creating a confusing web of programs, premiums, and paperwork that benefits insurers more than patients. Every year, rising administrative costs, drug prices, and coverage loopholes drain dollars that could instead be used to keep people healthy and productive. Medicare for All would drastically change that equation.
The proposed legislation would expand Medicare to cover everyone—from birth to old age—providing comprehensive care without copays, premiums, or deductibles. It ensures that hospitals are funded fairly and sustainably so they can keep their doors open and their staff supported. It simplifies the system, strengthens accountability, and guarantees that every person can choose and keep their doctor.
This is not about politics; it is about priorities. Health care should not be viewed as a privilege, but as a basic human right. Frankly, it is good public policy that affects everything from education to workforce readiness to economic mobility. For Mecklenburg County, where we are working every day to address disparities in health, income, housing, and opportunity, ensuring access to quality, affordable care is one of the smartest investments we can make.
The current approach costs too much and delivers too little. Medicare for All would save money, save lives, and strengthen communities. By eliminating administrative waste and corporate profiteering, we can redirect resources toward direct patient care, prevention, and wellness.
The American people seem to be recognizing this. A recent survey of likely voters found that 65% support a Medicare for All system.
Local governments like ours have a vital role in leading this conversation. When counties and cities stand together, we send a clear message to state and federal leaders that our residents deserve a system that puts people over profit.
Now is the time for communities across America to demand a healthcare system that works for everyone, because we know that a healthier community is not a partisan goal; it is a moral and economic imperative.
Laura Meier, Mark Jerrell and Susan Rodriguez-McDowell are Mecklenburg County commissioners.