Health Care Access
Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy seeks to ensure that low-income children, seniors, people living with disabilities, immigrants and their families have fair access to vital health care and public services.
Our services focus on:
- Accessing quality health care for children and their parents in low- and moderate-income families through Medicaid and implementation of health reform
- Improving health care and income support for seniors and people living with disabilities, with a focus on issues involving Social Security, SSI, Medicaid and Medicare, and on improving mental health and developmental disability services, access to in-home services, care in nursing and rest homes, access to community-based care, and managed care
Case work
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Quality nursing and rest home care
- Veterans benefits
- Mental health services
- Health care access and health insurance
- Home and community services
- Developmental disability services
- Food security
Systemic advocacy and community outreach
Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy represents individuals and families who contact us for assistance. We utilize systemic advocacy strategies to change the rules, procedures and practices of federal and state agencies to ensure access to health care and public services for all people. We maintain a strong collaborative relationship with local and state agencies.
Technical assistance
Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy assists legal services firms and other advocates throughout the state. We provide ongoing training, individual assistance and
Eligibility
Our health care program focuses on the representation of Mecklenburg County residents who earn less than 200% of the federal poverty standard, but we also accept residents in Union and Cabarrus Counties in the priority areas above – to the extent resources permit and Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy is the most appropriate legal representative.
During 2024, the Health Insurance Navigators:
- Completed 1,704 appointments, enrolling 487 individuals in Medicaid or Marketplace plans
- Provided post-enrollment assistance to 213 consumers
- Served diverse communities with support in English, Spanish, ASL, and other languages
During 2024, the Medicaid Ombudsman Program (through our partnership with Legal Aid of North Carolina, Pisgah Legal Services, and the State of North Carolina):
- Handled over 22,700 calls, opening 19,073 cases with a 95% resolution rate
- Made 1,523 legal referrals and 25,318 referrals for other services
- Addressed 7,411 issue resolution cases and 11,662 information and education cases
During 2024, the Public Benefits legal team:
- Assisted 721 households consisting of 1,341 people (including 395 children)
- Obtained $14,404,000 in monetary benefits for clients through food stamps, SSA benefits Medicaid access, Medicaid services, etc.
Get Help
Call 704-376-1600
(select option 2, public benefits)
or
Additional Resources
Apply for benefits and services online: https://epass.nc.gov
Public Charge: What Families Need to Know
Immigrant Access to Health Insurance & Nutrition Programs
Inmigrantes: Seguro de Salud y Programas de Alimentacion
CLASP Presentation: Immigrant Access to Health Care in N.C.
Health Insurance Options for Immigrant Families
Seguro Medico para Familias Inmigrantes
Latest News, Stories and Updates:
- Major Changes Coming to Health Coverage Access: What Consumers Need to KnowImportant changes to both Marketplace and Medicaid health coverage programs are scheduled to begin this year, significantly impacting low-income individuals, immigrant communities, and those who rely on coverage assistance programs. These reforms are the result of recent regulations from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the passing of the Budget Reconciliation Bill… Read more: Major Changes Coming to Health Coverage Access: What Consumers Need to Know
- Medicaid, Immigration & Your Information: What You Need To KnowWHAT WE KNOW On 7/17/25, it became known that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – shared Medicaid recipients’ (not necessarily applicants) data with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for purposes of immigration and customs enforcement. NCDHHS recently added a web… Read more: Medicaid, Immigration & Your Information: What You Need To Know
- Our Health Insurance Navigators Are Leading the Way in Healthcare Access, and Now They’re Award-WinningAt Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, we know that access to healthcare changes lives—and so does the dedication of the people who help make that access possible. As a part of the North Carolina Navigator Consortium, our federally certified Health Insurance Navigators provide free, unbiased assistance to individuals and families who need help navigating health… Read more: Our Health Insurance Navigators Are Leading the Way in Healthcare Access, and Now They’re Award-Winning
- Norma’s StoryNorma is a passionate entrepreneur who poured her heart into starting her own business, Pan Dulce/Conchas, bringing the warmth of traditional Mexican bread to her community. But turning her dream into reality came at a cost—she had to leave her full-time job, losing the health insurance that came with it. For two long years, Norma… Read more: Norma’s Story
- Advocacy Center Health Insurance Navigators Recognized With Consortium Member Impact AwardThis week, we had the privilege of joining the NC Navigator Consortium, alongside community partners and advocates, to celebrate two incredible milestones: 15 years of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and more than 640,000 North Carolinians enrolling in Medicaid Expansion. These achievements mark significant progress in expanding access to quality, affordable health coverage across our… Read more: Advocacy Center Health Insurance Navigators Recognized With Consortium Member Impact Award
