Village of Pinehurst, NC
Home MenuHealth Care & Prescription Assistance
Understanding healthcare coverage, locating an appropriate provider, and paying for medications or equipment can be complicated. The resources below can help residents access care, understand Medicare or Medicaid, reduce eligible prescription costs, and plan for care after hospitalization.
For a medical emergency, call 911. Do not delay urgent care while trying to determine insurance coverage.
Finding Health Care
Moore Free & Charitable Clinic
What it offers:
Affordable healthcare for uninsured, limited-income residents of Moore County. Available services and appointment capacity may change.
Who may qualify:
- Moore County residents
- People without health insurance
- Individuals meeting the clinic’s financial and other eligibility requirements
Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries may not qualify because they are insured. Contact the clinic to confirm.
How to apply:
Review the patient eligibility information and enrollment application on the clinic’s website or call for assistance. Applicants may need to provide identification, proof of Moore County residence, household-income information, and information about insurance status.
Cost:
Contact the clinic for current charges and payment policies.
Telephone: 910-246-5333
Address: 211 Trimble Plant Road, Suite C, Southern Pines, NC 28387
Website: Moore Free & Charitable Clinic
Information last verified: July 2026
Finding a Medicare Provider
What it offers:
Medicare’s online directory helps beneficiaries search for physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, home-health agencies, rehabilitation facilities, hospice providers, and medical-equipment suppliers.
Who may use it:
Anyone seeking a Medicare-enrolled provider. Participation and acceptance of new patients should be confirmed directly.
How to use it:
Search by ZIP code and provider type. Before scheduling, ask whether the provider accepts your specific coverage and whether a referral or prior authorization is required.
Cost:
There is no cost to use the directory. The cost of care depends on the service, provider, coverage, deductible, and coinsurance.
Telephone: 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227)
Website: Medicare Care Compare
Information last verified: July 2026
Medicare Counseling
Moore County SHIIP
The Senior Health Insurance Information Program, or SHIIP, provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling. SHIIP counselors do not sell insurance.
What it offers:
- Medicare information
- Medicare supplement guidance
- Medicare Advantage plan comparisons
- Medicare prescription-drug plan comparisons
- Help understanding Medicare notices
- Assistance with paperwork
- Long-term-care insurance information
- Medicare 101 presentations
- Benefit reviews during Medicare Open Enrollment
Who may qualify:
People with Medicare, people approaching Medicare eligibility, caregivers, and authorized family members seeking Medicare information.
How to apply:
Call the Moore County Department of Aging to schedule one-on-one assistance. During busy enrollment periods, residents may be asked to complete a Medicare Plan Finder form before the appointment.
Cost:
Free.
Moore County telephone: 910-947-4483
State SHIIP hotline: 855-408-1212
Website: Moore County SHIIP
Information last verified: July 2026
Protect Your Medicare Information
Medicare and SHIIP counselors will not unexpectedly call to demand payment or pressure you to change plans immediately.
Do not provide a Medicare number, Social Security number, bank information, or verification code to an unsolicited caller. If uncertain, end the call and contact SHIIP or Medicare using an official number.
Prescription-Cost Assistance
Medicare Extra Help
What it offers:
Extra Help assists eligible Medicare beneficiaries with Medicare Part D prescription-drug premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other covered costs.
Who may qualify:
People with Medicare who meet current income and resource requirements. Some beneficiaries receive Extra Help automatically because they have Medicaid, receive Supplemental Security Income, or participate in a Medicare Savings Program.
Income and resource limits can change annually. Do not assume you are ineligible without checking.
How to apply:
- Apply through the Social Security Administration.
- Ask SHIIP for help completing or understanding the application.
- Contact Medicare if you believe you are receiving the wrong Extra Help prescription price.
Cost:
There is no charge to apply.
Social Security: 800-772-1213
Medicare: 800-633-4227
North Carolina SHIIP: 855-408-1212
Website: Medicare Extra Help
Information last verified: July 2026
Other Ways to Reduce Prescription Costs
Residents may also ask about:
- Medicare Savings Programs
- Medicaid prescription coverage
- Manufacturer patient-assistance programs
- Generic or lower-cost alternatives
- Different covered medications within the same treatment category
- Mail-order or preferred-network pharmacies
- Community clinic assistance
- Charitable prescription programs
Ask the prescribing professional whether a less expensive alternative is medically appropriate. Ask the insurance plan which pharmacies and medications are preferred.
Discount cards may sometimes reduce a retail price, but they are not insurance. A purchase made with a discount card instead of a Medicare drug plan generally does not count toward the plan’s deductible or out-of-pocket spending. Compare both prices before deciding.
Never stop taking a prescribed medication, reduce the dose, or take it less often because of cost without speaking with the prescribing professional or pharmacist.
If You Are About to Run Out of Medication
Contact:
- The prescribing professional
- The pharmacy
- The insurance or Medicare drug plan
- SHIIP
- The medication manufacturer’s official assistance program, when applicable
Explain how many doses remain. Do not purchase medication from an unverified online seller or social-media advertisement.
Medicare Information
Medicare
What it offers:
Federal health insurance information, coverage explanations, plan comparison, provider directories, claims assistance, appeals information, and fraud-reporting resources.
Who may qualify:
Medicare eligibility is generally based on age, certain disabilities, end-stage renal disease, or other federal requirements.
How to apply or get help:
Enrollment is handled through the Social Security Administration. Questions about existing Medicare coverage, claims, or plans can be directed to Medicare or SHIIP.
Cost:
Premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance depend on the type of Medicare coverage and additional insurance.
Medicare: 800-633-4227
Social Security: 800-772-1213
Local SHIIP: 910-947-4483
Website: Medicare.gov
Information last verified: July 2026
Medicaid Information
NC Medicaid
What it offers:
Health coverage for eligible North Carolina residents. Depending on eligibility and the applicable program, covered services may include:
- Primary and specialty care
- Hospital services
- Prescription medications
- Behavioral healthcare
- Non-emergency medical transportation
- Medical equipment
- Home and community-based services
- Long-term services and supports
Who may qualify:
Eligibility depends on factors such as income, age, disability, household circumstances, and applicable Medicaid rules.
People can have both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid may help some Medicare beneficiaries with premiums, cost-sharing, long-term care, or other services.
How to apply:
- Apply through North Carolina ePASS.
- Contact Moore County Department of Social Services.
- Ask a Medicaid Ambassador for application assistance.
- Contact NC Medicaid for program information.
Cost:
There is no charge to apply. Copayments or other rules may apply to certain covered services.
NC Medicaid Contact Center: 888-245-0179
Moore County Department of Social Services: 910-947-2436
Website: NC Medicaid Beneficiary Information
Information last verified: July 2026
NC Medicaid Ombudsman
What it offers:
Independent assistance for NC Medicaid beneficiaries who need help understanding managed care or resolving a problem that they have been unable to resolve with a provider or health plan.
Who may qualify:
NC Medicaid beneficiaries and their authorized representatives.
How to obtain help:
Contact the Ombudsman after gathering relevant notices, dates, names, and information about prior attempts to solve the problem.
Cost:
Free.
Telephone: 877-201-3750
Website: NC Medicaid Ombudsman
Information last verified: July 2026
Medical Equipment
Medicare Durable Medical Equipment
Medicare Part B may cover certain medically necessary equipment ordered for use at home.
Possible covered equipment includes:
- Canes and crutches
- Walkers
- Wheelchairs and scooters
- Hospital beds
- Commode chairs
- Oxygen equipment
- CPAP equipment
- Blood-sugar monitors and supplies
- Certain other medically necessary devices
Who may qualify:
Medicare beneficiaries whose equipment meets Medicare’s medical-necessity, prescription, home-use, and supplier requirements.
How to obtain equipment:
- Ask a Medicare-enrolled healthcare professional whether the equipment is medically necessary.
- Obtain the required order or prescription.
- Use a Medicare-enrolled supplier.
- Ask whether the supplier accepts Medicare assignment.
- Confirm whether the item will be purchased or rented.
- Obtain an estimate of your responsibility before accepting it.
Cost:
The Part B deductible and coinsurance may apply. Costs can be higher if the supplier does not accept Medicare assignment.
Telephone: 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227)
Website: Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Coverage
Information last verified: July 2026
North Carolina Assistive Technology Program
What it offers:
- Assistive-technology assessments
- Equipment demonstrations
- Short-term device loans
- Equipment reuse and exchange information
- Funding-resource information
- Services for people of all ages and abilities
Assistive technology can include communication devices, magnification tools, adaptive controls, hearing or visual alerts, computer access, and equipment that supports daily activities.
Who may qualify:
North Carolina residents of all ages with disabilities or functional limitations.
How to apply:
Contact the program or submit a referral through its website.
Cost:
Many information, demonstration, and short-term loan services are publicly supported. Ask about any costs associated with a particular device or assessment.
Telephone: 919-855-3564
Website: North Carolina Assistive Technology Program
Information last verified: July 2026
Disability-Related Health Resources
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services administers or coordinates services involving:
- Physical disabilities
- Independent living
- Employment and vocational rehabilitation
- Blindness and low vision
- Deafness and hearing loss
- Assistive technology
- Intellectual or developmental disabilities
- Traumatic brain injury
- Behavioral health
- Community-based services
Who may qualify:
Requirements vary by program, disability, functional need, age, insurance, and service requested.
How to apply:
Contact NCDHHS and ask to be directed to the appropriate program. Older adults can also contact the Moore County Department of Aging for help locating local services.
Cost:
Varies. Some information and referral services are free; other programs may consider insurance, income, or available funding.
NCDHHS Customer Service Center: 800-662-7030
Moore County Department of Aging: 910-947-4483
Website: NCDHHS Disability Services
Information last verified: July 2026
Assistance Following Hospitalization
Planning for a safe return home should begin before discharge.
Hospital Discharge Planning
What it offers:
Hospital discharge planners, case managers, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, and therapists can help identify what will be needed after hospitalization.
This may include:
- Follow-up appointments
- Medication review
- Home-health services
- Skilled nursing or rehabilitation
- Physical, occupational, or speech therapy
- Medical equipment
- Transportation
- Meal assistance
- Personal-care assistance
- Caregiver training
- Instructions about symptoms requiring help
Who may receive it:
Hospital patients preparing for discharge. The services available after discharge depend on medical need, insurance coverage, provider availability, and eligibility.
How to request help:
Ask to speak with the hospital’s discharge planner or case manager as early as possible. State clearly if the patient lives alone, cannot safely walk, lacks transportation, cannot afford medications, or has no available caregiver.
Cost:
Discharge planning is part of hospital care, but recommended services or equipment may have separate costs. Confirm insurance coverage before discharge when possible.
Telephone: Contact the hospital or healthcare facility providing care.
Information last verified: July 2026
Medicare-Covered Home Health
What it offers:
For qualifying beneficiaries, Medicare may cover certain part-time or intermittent services at home, including:
- Skilled nursing
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech-language pathology
- Medical social services
- Limited home-health aide assistance when received with qualifying skilled care
- Certain medical supplies and equipment
Medicare generally does not cover round-the-clock home care, meal delivery, unrelated housekeeping, or ongoing personal care when personal care is the only service needed.
Who may qualify:
A beneficiary must meet Medicare’s requirements, including needing qualifying skilled services and meeting the program’s homebound rules. A healthcare professional must order the care, and a Medicare-certified home-health agency must provide it.
How to apply:
Ask the hospital physician, discharge planner, or primary-care professional whether home health is medically appropriate and covered.
Cost:
Medicare states that eligible beneficiaries pay nothing for covered home-health services, although costs may apply to medical equipment and noncovered services. Medicare Advantage rules may differ.
Telephone: 800-633-4227
Website: Medicare Home Health Services
Information last verified: July 2026
Moore County Department of Aging Follow-Up Resources
What it offers:
Information and referrals for transportation, meals, in-home assistance, caregiver support, telephone reassurance, and other community services.
Who may qualify:
Older adults and families may request information. Eligibility varies for individual programs.
How to apply:
Call before discharge when possible. Explain the expected discharge date, where the person will be living, and what help may be needed.
Cost:
Information and referral assistance is free. Referred services may have separate eligibility and cost requirements.
Telephone: 910-947-4483
Website: Moore County Department of Aging
Information last verified: July 2026
Before Leaving the Hospital
Ask for:
- A written discharge plan
- An updated medication list
- An explanation of medications that were started, stopped, or changed
- Follow-up appointment dates
- Wound-care or therapy instructions
- Dietary and activity restrictions
- Medical-equipment orders
- Home-health referrals
- A number to call with questions
- Clear instructions about warning signs
- Copies of relevant test results and records
Make sure the patient can obtain prescriptions, enter the home safely, prepare food, use the bathroom, and attend follow-up appointments.
This directory provides general information and does not guarantee eligibility, coverage, or availability. Contact each program, insurer, and provider directly to verify current requirements and costs. Healthcare decisions should be made with qualified professionals who understand the individual’s medical history.