Starting on December 1, 2023, NC Medicaid will cover people ages 19 through 64 years with higher incomes. You may be able to get health care coverage through Medicaid even if you didn’t qualify before.
Medicaid pays for doctor visits, yearly check-ups, emergency care, mental health care and more – at little or no cost to you.
Many North Carolinians can now get health care coverage through Medicaid if they meet the criteria below:
- Age 19 through 64
- You are a citizen (some noncitizens can also get Medicaid)
- If your household income falls below 138% of the Federal Poverty Line
How to Apply for Medicaid
- ePass – epass.nc.gov
- Paper Application – ncgov.servicenowservices.com
- In person at your local DSS office – ncdhhs.gov/localDSS
- Call DSS office – ncdhhs.gov/localDSS
NC Navigator Consortium
Need help applying for Medicaid? Contact the NC Navigator Consortium for free assistance.
- ncnavigator.org
- 1-855-733-3711
More people can get health care coverage through Medicaid.
Beginning Dec. 1, 2023, more people can get health coverage through Medicaid. Medicaid will cover people ages 19 through 64 years with higher incomes. North Carolinians may be able to get health care insurance through Medicaid even if they didn’t qualify before.
Medicaid pays for doctor visits, yearly check-ups, emergency care, mental health services and more – at little or no cost to beneficiaries.
Most people will be able to get health care coverage through Medicaid if they meet the criteria below. If you were eligible before, you still are. To learn more, go to medicaid.ncdhhs.gov.
- Live in North Carolina
- Age 19 through 64
- Are a citizen. Some non-U.S. citizens can get health care coverage through Medicaid. To learn more, go to medicaid.ncdhhs.gov.
- Have a household income that is below 138% of the federal poverty level. That’s about $20,000 for a single adult or about $34,000 for a family of three.
People can apply for Medicaid online at epass.nc.gov. They can also submit a paper application or apply in person at their local Department of Social Services (DSS). Applications may take up to 45 days to process. Incomplete applications may take longer.
To help the process go faster, people can:
- Apply online at ePASS and provide all the information requested. If the application is incomplete, it may take longer to process. DSS will need to follow up with the applicant.
- Keep contact information up-to-date in ePASS, to receive all important information about Medicaid benefits.
- Sign up for an enhanced ePASS account to keep their information updated without having to contact the local DSS office.