Health Care
Health care access is the ability to get needed health services when and where they are needed, with as few barriers as possible.
What would you like to learn?
Thank you to Care Ring for providing guidance on core content as Lead Agency for this folio.
What is health care access?
Health care access is the ability to get needed health services when and where they are needed, with as few barriers as possible.
Access includes financial access to be able to afford care, geographic access for close proximity to care, and functional access to systems that are easy to use. This includes timely appointments, transportation, language support, the ability to navigate care, and confidence that services are respectful and affordable. It also includes access to specialty care for complex or chronic conditions without excessive delays or cost barriers.
Access spans routine checkups and vaccinations, chronic disease management, mental health care, maternal care, and emergency services. When access works, people receive preventive care earlier, manage ongoing conditions more effectively, and avoid costly crises. When it fails, illness worsens, costs rise, and disparities grow.
In the United States, health care access is shaped by a complex mix of private systems and public programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Major challenges include affordability, workforce shortages, gaps in coverage, and persistent health inequities.
Strong health care access improves quality of life, increases life expectancy, supports workforce and economic stability, and helps communities respond to emergencies—from natural disasters to public health crises.
Key Facts
Scroll down for key facts on health care access
79.2 years
was the average life expectancy for Mecklenburg County residents in 2024
88,000
Mecklenburg County residents gained health coverage as of November 2025 through Medicaid expansion
12 year
life expectancy gap between two Charlotte ZIP codes only a few miles apart
11%
of Mecklenburg County’s population did not have health insurance in 2024
13.3%
of Adults (18+) in Mecklenburg County in 2024 were unable to see a doctor due to cost
7,535
people in Mecklenburg County given access to affordable high-quality health care in FY2025 through Care Ring
What is happening now?
Health care access in Charlotte‑Mecklenburg is at an important moment of change. The region is home to one of the Southeast’s strongest health care sectors and continues to grow as a hub for hospitals, medical education, research, and innovation. That growth brings opportunity, but also rising demand for care, especially in mental health, primary care, pediatrics, aging services, and chronic disease management.
One of the most significant shifts affecting access has been North Carolina’s recent Medicaid expansion, which has extended coverage to many adults who were previously uninsured. This has opened the door to regular primary care, behavioral health services, prescriptions, and preventive treatment options that had long been out of reach.
At the same time, access still looks very different depending on where someone lives, works, and how easily they can navigate the system. Provider shortages, particularly in mental health and dental care, along with transportation barriers, language access, affordability, and trust continue to limit care for many residents.
In response, Charlotte‑Mecklenburg is seeing increased coordination across health systems, public health, nonprofits, faith communities, and grassroots organizations. Mobile clinics, community‑based care models, debt‑relief efforts, and expanded outreach reflect a growing recognition that improving access requires more than hospitals alone—it requires meeting people where they are and making care easier to reach, use, and understand.
Looking ahead, The Pearl—an innovation district opened in 2025 by Atrium Health and Wexford Science & Technology—houses Wake Forest University School of Medicine Charlotte, the city’s first medical school, and will spark collaboration and accelerate innovation in health care.
Mental Health folio coming summer 2026.
Donate or volunteer now
To explore additional nonprofits working in Health Care, visit SHARE Charlotte’s directory for Health and Wellness, Medical Crisis, Medical Condition Support, Chronic Illness, Mental Health, and Clinic.
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Starting points
These six organizations are good starting points for someone new to this topic to learn more.
Charlotte is home to a growing network of people and organizations who believe in building a stronger, more connected community for all.
Explore more resources below.
Explore More
fftc:FWD provides starting points and exploration options for each fftc:FWD topic. Extensive directories of nonprofit organizations working in this topic can be found through the Share Charlotte Donate and Volunteer options above. The organizations below include some nonprofits suggested by the community, but also include government agencies, private sector initiatives, collaborations, and other efforts from across sectors.
Provides whole-person behavioral health, Medicaid, and community care services across North Carolina.
Provides affordable medical, dental, behavioral health, and wellness care for all communities.
Provides emergency medical services, mobile healthcare, and lifesaving community response across Mecklenburg County.
Protects and promotes community health through clinical care, prevention programs, and public health services.
Provides comprehensive clinical and diagnostic expertise for individuals with cognitive and movement concerns.
Tools and Resources
Everything you need in one place. Browse articles, reports, and tools that support your journey.
Lingo to Know
Every topic has its own vocabulary. Learn a few key words here so you can explore with confidence.
Health equity
The goal of ensuring everyone has fair access to health care opportunities and outcomes, regardless of background or income.
Medicaid
A government-funded health insurance program for low-income individuals, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Medicare
A federal health insurance program primarily for adults 65+, plus certain younger people with disabilities.
Preventive care
Medical services like screenings, vaccines, and annual checkups designed to prevent illness or detect problems early.
Primary care
Routine health care focused on prevention and managing common illnesses through an ongoing relationship with a doctor.
Social determinants of health
The conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.
Download the Health Care folio
Special thanks to cover artist, Edelweiss Vogel!
Connecting the Dots
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