The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) will host a live Spanish-language Cafecito and tele-town hall on Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 6 to 7 p.m. to discuss how new federal and state laws will impact NC Medicaid, who will lose coverage under these new rules and how to prepare for upcoming changes to the program.
Event participants include:
- Carolina Siliceo Perez, MLAS, Senior Strategy and Community Partner Engagement Manager, Division of Public Health, NCDHHS
- Jennifer Platts, Communications Specialist, NC Medicaid
- Rodrigo Medinilla, NC Benefits Navigator, Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
Cafecito and tele-town hall panelists will discuss:
- How to prepare for changes
- Guidance on the work and community engagement requirement
- Who will lose coverage, including people from the non-citizen population
- Where to find resources and support in Spanish
Due to federal changes, there are many non-citizens who will no longer be able to have Medicaid coverage as of Oct. 1, 2026. The NC Medicaid website provides information on what to expect, when changes to eligibility and renewals go into effect and where to find resources. Individuals can also connect with their local department of social services to better understand their health coverage options.
A new toolkit will be available in English and Spanish to help share information about the new rules for NC Medicaid. The toolkit will include bilingual materials for people to share with their networks and help communities continue to access health coverage and services. It will be posted on Medicaid.nc.gov/changes in English and Medicaid.nc.gov/cambios in Spanish.
The North Carolina Medicaid program provides affordable health coverage, access to doctors and prescriptions for more than 3 million children, older adults, people with disabilities, veterans and working North Carolinians. Medicaid covers 1 in 4 people in North Carolina, along with half of all births in the state.
The Cafecito will stream live from the NCDHHS Facebook, X (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 dial into the event by calling 855-756-7520 Ext. 134949#.