To reach the more than 600,000 North Carolinians that may be newly eligible for Medicaid through updates to eligibility rules that took effect Dec. 1, 2023, NC Medicaid launched the Medicaid Ambassador initiative. Beginning today, potential beneficiaries and interested volunteers can learn more about the NC Medicaid Ambassador initiative on the Medicaid Ambassador webpage.
Medicaid Ambassadors are volunteers that can assist potential beneficiaries in-person or over the phone as they complete the NC Medicaid application through ePASS or HealthCare.gov. Ambassadors are typically individuals working in public settings such as hospitals, health systems and libraries.
To become a Medicaid Ambassador, an individual must be part of a community affiliated organization. They must also be bound by state/federally regulated confidentiality laws or have signed a confidentiality agreement with their organization.
Medicaid Ambassadors can:
- Provide access to technology (e.g., a computer) for people to access ePASS or HealthCare.gov.
- Walk people through the online Medicaid application (ePASS ) or HealthCare.gov and answer application-related questions.
- Help people understand what information may be needed to complete an application.
- Refer someone to:
- An NC Navigator for assistance with HealthCare.gov (the federal marketplace)
- Their local Department of Social Services (DSS) if they have questions about eligibility, the status of an existing application or case, or need to update their contact information
Medicaid Ambassadors cannot:
- Complete an application on someone's behalf
- Collect or ask for personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI)
Essential Presenters, Medicaid Ambassadors and Navigators are all volunteers. Those interested in becoming a presenter, Ambassador, or Navigator, sign up at Spread the word about NC Medicaid expansion | NC Medicaid (ncdhhs.gov).
North Carolinians who are experiencing issues navigating the Medicaid application (ePASS or HealthCare.gov), difficulty accessing the technology needed to complete the application, or simply wanting to learn more about the program can go to the Medicaid Ambassador webpage today and see the Ambassadors available in their counties and/or needed languages.
Contact
Medicaid.NCEngagement@dhhs.nc.gov
For more information, visit the NC Medicaid Ambassadors Webpage.