RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced near the end of 2023 a new dashboard for tracking Medicaid Expansion enrollments.
An estimated 600,000 North Carolinians are eligible for Medicaid following the state’s expansion of the program by the General Assembly.
Beginning Dec.1, 2023, Medicaid eligibility will include adults aged 19 to 64 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty line. As an example, that could include individuals earning around $20,000 per year or a family of three with an income of about $34,000 per year.
“Hundreds of people each day are gaining health care coverage and getting the care they need,” NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley said in a press release. “Our work continues with state and community partners to support enrollment efforts to ensure as many people as possible can get covered.”
The comprehensive Medicaid Expansion coverage includes primary care, hospital stays, maternity care, vision and hearing services, dental/oral health care, and more. Medicaid covers various medical services, such as doctor visits, annual check-ups, emergency care, and mental health services, often at little or no cost to the beneficiaries. Importantly, current beneficiaries with full Medicaid coverage will not experience any changes.
As of Dec. 1, 2023, the Medicaid Expansion Dashboard showed expansion enrollment of 272,937 across all age groups spanning 19-64. The age group showing the largest enrollment was 19-29 with 32.7% of the total enrollments.
According to NCDHHS, the highest percentages for coverage spanning all age groups are currently in rural communities. NCDHHS said in a press release that more than 84,000 people had applied for Medicaid through Dec. 15, 2023.
The five standard plans listed on the dashboard include Healthy Blue, WellCare, UnitedHealthcare, Amerihealth, and Carolina Compete. Other options include Medicaid Direct and ECBI Tribal Option. Healthy Blue had the most enrollments as of Dec. 1, 2023, with 60,689 or over 22%.
The application process can be completed online through ePASS, or in-person, by phone, or through mailed applications, with online submissions potentially having faster processing times of up to 45 days.
Some immigrants/non-citizens can obtain coverage but individuals need to be residents of North Carolina and be non-citizen with a minimum of five years of qualification, meaning that an individual must undergo a waiting period of five years after obtaining “qualified” immigration status before becoming eligible for Medicaid. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Refugees, asylees, or lawful permanent residents who were formerly refugees or asylees are exempt from the five-year waiting period.
