State Health Plan Expands No-Cost Surgery Program With Novant Health Locations in Charlotte
Charlotte, NC – March 10, 2026 – A new State Health Plan partnership with Novant Health expands access to no-cost surgeries for eligible Charlotte-area workers.
Thousands of Charlotte-area teachers, state employees and retirees may soon have expanded access to certain surgeries at no out-of-pocket cost under a newly broadened State Health Plan partnership with Novant Health.
State officials announced March 4 that Novant Health is joining the State Health Plan’s Lantern surgical benefit network, significantly increasing the number of hospitals and surgical sites available to eligible members across North Carolina, including in the Charlotte region.
What the Expansion Means for Charlotte
The State Health Plan covers more than 750,000 public employees, retirees and their dependents statewide. Through the Lantern program, members who need certain non-emergency procedures can receive surgery at no cost when they use approved surgeons and facilities.
Novant Health’s participation adds access points in and around Charlotte, where the system operates hospitals, outpatient centers and specialty clinics. Plan administrators said the goal is to make high-quality surgical care more accessible while reducing financial strain on members.
According to state officials, the Lantern benefit launched last fall with a limited network and has already been used by hundreds of plan members. Additional surgeries are scheduled in the coming months as awareness of the program grows.
How the Lantern Benefit Works
Under the program, members who need a covered procedure contact Lantern and are connected with a care navigator. The navigator gathers medical records, identifies participating surgeons who specialize in the procedure and helps coordinate appointments.
Members may choose from recommended providers within the network. If a participating surgeon is located farther from home, the plan may cover certain travel-related expenses, depending on distance and eligibility rules.
Officials have described the model as an effort to steer patients toward vetted providers while lowering overall costs for the State Health Plan, which has faced mounting financial pressure in recent years.
What Residents Should Know
The no-cost benefit applies only to specific, non-emergency surgeries performed by participating providers within the Lantern network. Members are not required to use the program, but choosing other providers may result in standard cost-sharing.
Charlotte-area state employees and retirees can review eligibility details and covered procedures through the State Health Plan website or by contacting the plan directly. Novant Health facilities in the region are now included among participating sites.
If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.
