RALEIGH, N.C. — From one side of the state to the other, people are signing up for Medicaid.
The expansion of the state and federally joint-funded program is available to the more than 600,000 people in North Carolina who now qualify, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
North Carolina’s state health agency says more than half of those eligible used a scale-down version of Medicaid Family Planning benefits, which automatically enrolled them when expansion launched.
While some may choose to sign up with no assistance, many partners beyond government departments are working to inform residents of what their health care options are.
A single adult earning no more than $20,120 a year to a family of four whose collective income is below $41,400 a year meet the criteria for enrollment.
Organizations such as N.C. Legal Aid, a nonprofit offering free legal services to people in poverty or who cannot afford a lawyer, are stepping up. One way they do that is through the N.C. Navigators Consortium project, a statewide network of certified health insurance navigators.
Juanita Thomas, a former insurance claims adjuster, is one of those navigators.
“It does make a difference for people who can go to the doctor, can go get checkups, who can get exams, who can get dental care, who can get vision care. It’s awesome,” she said.
The navigators walk eligible residents step-by-step through the process of enrolling in the marketplace and Medicaid. Communications director Sammy Leach said phone reminders, follow-up calls, in-person aid and even Zoom are used to best meet each consumer’s needs.
“I think it becomes an involved process because the consumer brings as much information about themselves and their situation as they can to us, and we’re able to look through that information and decipher the best kinds of plans for you to choose from,” Leach said.
Tables were set up Friday inside the Martin Street Baptist Church Family Center, where navigators offered in-person help.
Brady Strine, a navigator, said calling people at home can be challenging.
“That’s the thing — it is kind of tricky. We have a script and I try to make the script sound as candid and realistic as possible just so people understand I am not a robot,” Strine said. “But there are a lot of robocalls nowadays, so some people will not answer calls they do not recognize.”
Care4Carolina is an organization that has urged lawmakers to expand Medicaid for years. Executive director Abby Carter Emanuelson says that as policy has changed, Care4Carolina's role has expanded, too.
“This is a momentous piece because we’ve put together a program while 10 years in the making but really two months that we’ve had the authority to move forward,” Emanuelson said.
Qualifying applicants are encouraged to submit their information online using the ePass portal on the state Health and Human Services website.
Advance Community Health, a federally qualified health center, will host a Medicaid enrollment event in Southeast Raleigh on Saturday.
Eligible enrollees may drop by 1001 Rock Quarry Road if they have questions and would like to sign up.
The event runs through 3 p.m.