Leaked emails reveal that Democrats and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBS NC) intentionally slowed down the response to Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina for political purposes.

The leaked correspondence shows BCBS NC coordinating directly with Democrat Governor Roy Cooper’s office to limit volunteer efforts and delay disaster relief in the 25 counties devastated by the hurricane.

Emails between BCBS NC executives, including CEO Dr. Tunde Sotunde and Director of Community Engagement Cheryl Parquet, reveal BCBS’s plans to coordinate disaster relief in a way that would intentionally slow the recovery process.

Parquet, responsible for managing community outreach, was instrumental in aligning BCBS’s efforts with Cooper’s office.

You can see the emails here.

Restricting Volunteer Efforts

The leaked communications show that BCBS NC directed volunteers to avoid spontaneous aid efforts and only work with government-affiliated organizations like the Red Cross and VolunteerNC.

This coordination deliberately restricted the speed and scope of the recovery, despite acknowledging internally that this would delay relief by four to six weeks.

Critics argue that this timing may have been politically motivated, allowing the delay to coincide with the upcoming election cycle.

Minimal Financial Contribution

In response to Hurricane Helene’s devastation, BCBS NC pledged $2.5 million toward relief efforts in western North Carolina. However, given the company’s annual profits of nearly $1 billion, this contribution represents a mere 0.0043% of their total earnings.

This has raised concerns over whether BCBS NC is truly committed to aiding the affected communities.

For comparison, BCBS NC CEO Dr. Tunde Sotunde received a $2.1 million bonus in 2021, bringing his total annual compensation to over $4 million. This has further sparked outrage, given that the company has consistently reported soaring profits throughout the pandemic and in its aftermath.

BCBS Profits Amid Public Health Crises

BCBS NC’s financial performance during the pandemic has been a point of controversy. The company generated $10.7 billion in revenue in 2021, with a net profit of $570 million. This represented a 118% increase from 2020 and a 16% rise from pre-pandemic figures in 2019.

WRAL News has reported on BCBS NC’s rising premiums and executive bonuses, with many questioning whether the organization is fulfilling its nonprofit mandate.

Dr. Sotunde and BCBS NC faced criticism during the COVID-19 pandemic as the company continued to rack up record profits while maintaining its nonprofit status. The Hurricane Helene relief effort, coupled with the company’s apparent prioritization of political and financial interests, has only added to the growing dissatisfaction with BCBS NC’s handling of public health crises.

These revelations raise questions about the transparency and motivations behind the disaster relief efforts, and many are calling for accountability from both BCBS NC and Governor Roy Cooper’s office.