Members of Grace United Methodist Church in Winfield have established a partnership with the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, a statewide coalition working throughout Kansas to encourage people and organizations to promote policies that ensure everyone has the opportunity to attain their highest level of health. As a partner organization Grace UMC joins business leaders, doctors and hospitals, social service and safety-net organizations, faith communities, chambers of commerce, advocates for health care consumers, and many more.
The two organizations hosted a “Walk With the Gap” event Saturday, Oct. 22, at Keyhole Drive at Southwestern College. The purpose was to bring awareness to the need to expand KanCare in Kansas. Current estimates say 150,000 Kansans could receive coverage with this change representing hundreds of millions of federal tax dollars which Kansans already pay and simply do not come back to the state.
"Kansans are paying more for everything these days, including health care. KanCare expansion is a way we can bring down health care costs for everyone and provide accessible health insurance to 150,000 Kansans who currently can't afford it" said April Holman, executive director of the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas. "We are so excited to be walking in Winfield this weekend to bring awareness to the fact that 8 out of 10 Kansans support expansion.”
Pastor Charles McKinzie of Grace United Methodist said: “Most of the people who would benefit from this change are those who get called the ‘working poor.’ They don’t have the financial means to afford quality or comprehensive health insurance, but currently make too much to receive the benefits of KanCare. These are good people struggling to get by. Many of them make impossible choices like whether to buy groceries or get their medicine. As a follower of Christ, I believe that healing the sick is holy work and so I’m proud to say that the congregation of Grace United Methodist has stepped up to walk with those in this coverage gap.”
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