Outreach Begins to Help Communities Get Covered Through Medicaid Expansion | Eastern NC Now

Press Release:

    RALEIGH     Beginning Dec. 1, 2023, more than 600,000 people in North Carolina will be able to apply for health coverage through NC Medicaid. To ensure people know about the expanded eligibility for NC Medicaid, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched a new website with a toolkit of resources for organizations to spread the word to their communities.

    Medicaid expansion will cover people ages 19 through 64 years with higher incomes, closing the coverage gap for North Carolinians. Medicaid pays for doctor visits, yearly check-ups, emergency care, mental health and more - at little or no cost to participants.

    "Medicaid expansion is the most significant health care investment for North Carolina in decades, and we're working hard to let people everywhere know how to apply," said Governor Roy Cooper. "Finally, lower wage workers, veterans, rural communities and many others will get the health insurance they've needed for so long to keep them healthier, treat sickness earlier and get them help in fighting the opioid crisis."

    "I want everyone eligible for expansion to be enrolled and for it to be as easy as possible," said NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. "Our goal is to get the word out using this website and our partners so North Carolinians know what they need to do to get health insurance and get connected to care."

    The toolkit is the first phase of the state's outreach efforts and includes new English- and Spanish-language resources to help educate North Carolinians on eligibility and how to apply. Bilingual resources include a new website that features a sign-up form for NC Medicaid updates; a toolkit with flyers, social media content, FAQs, a presentation and other materials to help community leaders spread the word; as well as a step-by-step video on how to apply online through ePass, a secure, self-service online platform.

    On Dec. 1, 2023, the department anticipates approximately 300,000 eligible people currently receiving Medicaid Family Planning benefits will be automatically enrolled in full health care coverage. This group will not need to complete an application process and will receive a letter from their local department of social services.

    For NC Medicaid updates, an alert when the application process goes live and to receive timely resources, complete the NC Medicaid sign-up form online.

• NC Department of Health and Human Services
• 2001 Mail Service Center
• Raleigh, NC 27699-2001
• Ph: (919) 855-4840
• news@dhhs.nc.gov