The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Cafecito and tele-town hall TODAY, Thursday, January 11, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss Medicaid expansion, who is newly eligible, ways to apply and which qualified immigration statuses are eligible for health care coverage.

Event participants include:

  • Yazmin Garcia Rico, MSW, Director of Latinx and Hispanic Policy and Strategy, NCDHHS
  • Jennifer Platts, Communications Specialist, NC Medicaid
  • Kate Woomer-Deters, Senior Attorney, Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, NC Justice Center

North Carolina Medicaid is now available for more people following the historic expansion on Dec. 1, 2023. More than 600,000 people ages 19 through 64 years are newly eligible for health care coverage, including thousands of individuals who are part of the Hispanic and Latino community.

Cafecito and tele-town hall panelists will discuss the following:

  • Who is eligible for Medicaid
  • How to apply for health care coverage
  • Where to find Medicaid resources and application support in Spanish
  • Impacts of Medicaid expansion on health coverage for the Hispanic and Latino community in North Carolina

Some non-U.S. citizens with qualified immigration status in North Carolina can get health care coverage through Medicaid. An expert from the North Carolina Justice Center, Kate Woomer-Deters, will provide insights on who might be eligible for Medicaid based on their immigration status, how Medicaid impacts Public Charge and where people can access confidential support.

The Cafecito will stream live from the NCDHHS Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts, where viewers can submit questions. The event also includes a tele-town hall, which invites people by phone to listen in and submit questions. People can also dial into the event by calling 855-756-7520 Ext. 100647#.

NCDHHS’ Cafecito’s and tele-town halls are part of the state’s ongoing public efforts to ensure equitable access to timely health information, including Medicaid enrollment updates and resources to help North Carolinians find health care coverage. [source]