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Richland County council proclaims support for CoverSC campaign to close state coverage gap
Summary
Richland County Council adopted a proclamation backing CoverSC’s drive to close South Carolina’s health‑coverage gap, citing local uninsured and medical‑debt figures and urging state action; CoverSC representative Zakiya Mickle thanked the council.
Richland County Council on Dec. 2 adopted a proclamation expressing support for CoverSC’s campaign to expand affordable health coverage in South Carolina and urging the General Assembly and governor to close the state’s coverage gap.
The proclamation noted that 14.1% of Richland County adults ages 18 to 64 lack insurance and that 23% of county residents reported medical debt. It said expanding coverage could allow an estimated 16,412 residents to obtain Healthy Connections insurance in the first year and could generate state and county tax revenue and new jobs locally.
Zakiya Mickle, speaking for CoverSC, thanked council members for the “leadership and willingness to stand with our community” and said the proclamation affirms the county’s commitment to neighbors who cannot afford marketplace plans yet do not qualify for Medicaid.
Vice Chair Derek Pew, who spoke during the item, said he was “excited that our body has decided to support CoverSC,” noting personal familiarity with the issue through family and local nurse leadership.
The proclamation asks state officials to act “to close the coverage gap, to improve public health outcomes, strengthen rural hospitals, promote the well‑being of residents, and drive economic growth.” Council members joined for a photo under the county seal after the presentation.
Next steps cited in the proclamation are requests to the South Carolina General Assembly and the governor; no county‑level funding or binding commitment was included in the council action.
