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By Karen Garloch
Gaston Memorial Hospital will receive a state award this week for its roll in raising awareness about Inclusive Health, North Carolina’s high-risk insurance pool that provides health insurance for people with pre-existing conditions who have few or no coverage options.
Gaston Memorial will receive its award Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the first Annual Recognition Awards Luncheon held by Inclusive Health, the state’s high-risk insurance pool created by the General Assembly in 2007. The ceremony will be at noon at the N.C. Institute of Medicine in Morrisville.
“Inclusive Health has depended on hospitals to help us get the word out,” said Michael Keough, executive director of Inclusive Health. “This awards ceremony is to pay tribute to their hard work, and to thank them for helping us enroll almost 3,000 members in our first year.”
Inclusive Health provides affordable, individual health insurance coverage for North Carolinians who do not have access to an employer health plan and face higher premiums due to a pre-existing medical condition. It also offers coverage to those who qualify due to loss of employment because of the effects of international trade.
Others who will receive awards are Constance Talford of The Outsource Resource in Charlotte, R.M. Beasley & Associates of Charlotte, IBD Insurance Services of Raleigh and North Carolina chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Mary P. Wells of Rocky Mount will also receive an award in recognition of two years as an Inclusive Health board member representing small business. N.C. Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin will present the award to Wells, who is retiring from her board position.
