(RALEIGH) -- Half a million adults in North Carolina who do not have health insurance could soon take advantage of a program meant for children and people with disabilities. Under President Obama's health care plan, the legislature could decide to extend Medicaid benefits to adults who earn less than $15,000 a year.

"Our lawmakers are going to decide if North Carolina expands to people who are in this situation and we absolutely think that it's a moral issue that we should not move forward with reform, leaving people behind," said Nicole Dozier with the N.C. Justice Center.

Dozier said the federal government would initially pay most of the costs picking up 100 percent of the tab for three years and 93 percent for another two years. She is not sure that the Republican controlled General Assembly will expand the program considering they have already eliminated dental and vision care for people who are on Medicaid now.