Expanding access to care for uninsured North Carolinians
Key Insights & Takeaways
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina has invested $510,000 in three programs designed by the Western Carolina Medical Society (WCMS) to expand access to care, support providers, and grow its network of health professionals in the state.
The collaboration will help fund WCMS’ signature Project Access program, which includes over 700 volunteer providers who offer medical services at no cost to more than 2,500 uninsured individuals each year.
The investment also strengthens the WCMS Interpreter Network (WIN) and Healthy Healer Program, which will help expand language access and offer benefits to volunteer providers.
Over the past 15 years, North Carolina has made significant progress in extending coverage to individuals who previously lacked health insurance. From 2010 to 2024, the state reduced the percentage of its population without private or public insurance from 16.8% to 8.6%.1
Despite this historic improvement, the state’s uninsured rate remains slightly above the national average, leaving nearly one million North Carolinians without affordable access to care.
Western Carolina Medical Society (WCMS) is among the organizations working to expand access to care for the state’s uninsured. Since launching Project Access in 1996, WCMS has connected tens of thousands of individuals in need with local medical providers who volunteer their time and services to offer free specialty health care. It was the first program of its kind in the nation and has been replicated 200 times.
"Lack of health care access harms individual lives and families, hurting the communoty as a whole," said Karen Wallace- Meigs, executive director of WCMS. "Donated care is a gift of life."
Percent of North Carolinians not covered by health insurance over time1
2010
2015
2020
2024
UnitedHealthcare & WCMS: A shared commitment to expanding access to care in North Carolina
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina shares the Western Carolina Medical Society’s commitment to expanding access to quality, affordable health care for underserved communities.
To support these shared goals and help more people in the state live healthier lives, UHC recently invested $510,660 to support three WCMS programs:
- Project Access
- WCMS Interpreter Network (WIN)
- Healthy Healer Program
Supporting Project Access
Key goal: Opening more doors for equitable health care
For 30 years, Project Access has connected low-income, uninsured individuals with physicians and other medical professionals in their area who offer essential medical care at no cost.
More than 700 participating providers across Buncombe and Madison Counties deliver services ranging from surgery and preventive screenings to cancer care and laboratory testing. Eligible patients also receive affordable medications and medical equipment when necessary.
Each year, more than 2,500 uninsured individuals who are ineligible for Medicaid receive essential services through Project Access. This innovative program has become a model for states to build stronger community-based health care solutions.
With the new funding from UHC, Project Access hired a full-time Community Health Worker dedicated to assessing patients’ needs, focusing on social drivers of health and making referrals to partner agencies.
Resources will also be used to support community outreach, expand the network of providers working with the project, and offer community health worker training for staff members who enroll new patients in Project Access.
Strengthening the WCMS Interpreter Network (WIN)
Key goal: Training more interpreters and fostering workforce development
The WCMS Interpreter Network (WIN), the largest in western North Carolina, is used by Project Access to ensure patients receive care in their home languages. In 2025, WIN interpreted more than 6,225 patient appointments in 43 languages, including American Sign Language. All Project Access patient appointments were free to the patient and providers.
"It’s really important to have somebody who understands the medical terminology and can express it very well to the patient who doesn’t speak or understand English. Because if you can’t explain the illness, you can’t really care for people," said Dr. Michael Messino of Cancer Care of Western North Carolina in a WCMS video explaining the importance of WIN.
UHC support for this initiative will go toward interpreter training courses and job shadowing opportunities for prospective interpreters interested in joining the network.
Additionally, funding will be used to attract new recruits, increase the number of certified medical interpreters, and expand employment opportunities in western North Carolina.
“Every individual deserves access to high-quality and affordable health care.
We are proud to support WCMS and its community-centered work.”
Investing in the Healthy Healer Program
Key goal: Promoting health and well-being for volunteer care providers
The Healthy Healer Program (HHP) is designed to help medical professionals access the help they need for themselves. Designed as a benefit for WCMS members, the confidential program offers participants up to 12 free therapy or coaching sessions each year. Before the UHC investment, only six free sessions were available to each member.
Beyond helping providers avoid burnout and develop healthy habits of their own, WCMS envisions the Healthy Healer Program as an extension of its commitment to fostering a stronger medical community in the region and ensuring its providers feel valued by those they serve.
In addition to individual sessions, care providers receive access to wellness events, self-care resources, community-building activities such as book and hiking clubs, and discounts on services to support healthcare professionals.
Funding from UHC will help facilitate therapy sessions, maintain support groups, and reinforce the program’s long-term sustainability.
Working together to build healthier communities
Since North Carolina began its transition to Medicaid managed care five years ago, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina has worked alongside providers, community organizations, and local leaders to improve health outcomes across the state.
Those combined efforts have helped close care gaps and enhance care coordination while delivering significant quality measure improvements in areas such as controlling high blood pressure, timely prenatal care, diabetes control, immunization measures, early childhood well visits, and more.
Looking ahead, UHC will continue prioritizing provider collaborations and focusing on its key goals in North Carolina:
- improving health outcomes
- expanding access to care
- advancing value-based care
- modernizing the provider experience
- reducing administrative burden
The investment in WCMS reflects these values and a simple belief: stronger partnerships lead to stronger health outcomes. When local organizations, providers, and leaders work together, they help create a more connected, resilient, and responsive system of care that benefits everyone.
"The greatest progress happens when organizations bring their unique strengths together in service of a common goal," said Anita Bachmann, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina.
"Across North Carolina, we’ve seen how strong community partnerships can expand access to care, improve health outcomes, and create lasting change. That’s the approach we’ll continue to support because that’s how healthier communities are built."
