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, the Children’s Health Insurance Program 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, services to people living with HIV/AIDS, and managed care
Case work
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Children’s Health Insurance Program
- Quality nursing and rest home care
- Veterans benefits
- Mental health services
- Health care access and health insurance
- Home and community services
- Developmental disability services
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 2023, the Health Insurance Navigators:
- Handled 2,274 appointments, enrolling 264 people in the Food Stamps Program, 316 people in Marketplace Insurance, and 648 people in Medicaid
- Had 532 Managed Care conversations
- Received 37,428 calls, emails and texts
During 2023, the Medicaid Ombudsman Program:
- Answered 17,631 calls to assist Medicaid beneficiaries facing problems with their coverage or care through our partnership with Legal Aid of North Carolina, Pisgah Legal Services, and the State of North Carolina
- Opened 14,024 cases, with 99% resolved, through our partnership with Legal Aid of North Carolina and Pisgah Legal Services
During 2023, the Public Benefits Unit:
- Obtained/preserved Medicaid for 534 households, totaling a value of $8,006,297
- Obtained/preserved Medicaid services for 40 households, totaling a value of $393,810
- Obtained/preserved/increased food stamps and WIC benefits for 174 households, totaling $737,364 in benefits
- Obtained/preserved/increased SSA disability benefits for 75 households, totaling $6,261,094 in benefits
- Overcame SSA disability overpayment for 14 households, saving recipients over $200,000
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