CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- It's been three months since automatic Medicaid re-enrollment ended and Virginia has started reviewing eligibility.

Out of 18,000 Charlottesville residents, 1,000 lost Medicaid in June, either from not signing back up or a change in their eligibility.

Gregg Winston is helping give options. He is the co-chair of the Move 2 Health Equity Coalition, which works to improve the well-being of the Charlottesville community.

"Health care is a right. We all need to make sure that that just like education and other things that people have access to it, there should not be any barriers to it," he said.

Winston is a retired hospital administrator, and he's connecting people with local groups to help them maintain medical coverage. 

"Lack of medical coverage leads to increased morbidity, mortality and hospitalization rates. And so, we want to make sure that people have a medical home," he said.

He's setting people up with the Charlottesville Free Clinic.

"If they do lose coverage they don't need to lose their doctor. So, the Free Clinic has said they are willing to step in and ensure that those who want to seek care there can," he said.

Winston is also meeting with Social Services monthly to identify why each person lost coverage and create a larger strategy. For now, he suggested that people call them.

"They are there to assist in these matters, and it's better to be proactive and do it while you're healthy as opposed to wait until something happens and you have to go to the emergency room," he said.

Winston will be at Saturday’s Healthy Streets, Healthy People event at Washington Park.

He said anyone with questions about their health coverage can visit him at the Move 2 Health Equity Coalition table.