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CHARLOTTE -- There are an estimated 1.5 million uninsured people in the state and most can't afford health care, much less prescription drugs. But free prescription drugs will soon be available to low-income North Carolinians, courtesy of drug makers and distributors.

MedAssist, in east Charlotte, is like any other pharmacy; only its clients don't pay for their prescription drugs.

"We get the drugs for free and we dispense to the patient for free," said MedAssist executive director Lori Giang.

It's worked so well, the program is going statewide.

"It's not right for people to have to choose between paying rent or paying for prescription drugs," said North Carolina attorney general Roy Cooper, whose office is providing a $2 million grant to offer prescriptions to those in need across the state.

Those dollars come from legal settlements with drug manufacturers and distributors. Clients can access the drugs by going to one of the 78 free clinics across the state.

"If we can get them their medications, we can help them improve their health outcomes," Jason Baisden, of the North Carolina Association of Free Clinics, said.

Cooper says the program could pay for itself, and then some.

"If we can get people their prescriptions and prevent them from having these illnesses that they have to be hospitalized, it'll save everybody money," he said.

Under this plan, MedAssist would serve as the central fill pharmacy for the state. It would take in the prescriptions, fill the order and ship a 90-day supply back to clients across North Carolina.

The initial pilot program will start this year in Cleveland and Onslow counties along with seven free clinics in Huntersville, Matthews, Raleigh, Lumberton, Albemarle, Forest City and Highlands. The hope is the free prescriptions will be available across the state in two years.