RALEIGH, NC – February 1, 2024 – The latest update of the NC Medicaid Expansion Enrollment Dashboard was on February 1st. Last month, enrollment in NC increased by more than 32 thousand to more than 346 thousand people. Buncombe County enrollment increased by about 1,200 to almost 8,600 people. When the COVID national emergency ended in April, the first Medicaid expansion (ME) enrollees lost their full-benefit Medicaid insurance because they made too much money. However, NC HHS enrolled them in a limited Medicaid benefit plan that provides family planning benefits before advancing them back to Medicaid after the expansion on December 1st. There were about 270 thousand North Carolinians, including more than 6 thousand people from Buncombe County, who became the first automatic enrollees. It is estimated that a total of 600 thousand North Carolinians will be eligible for ME, including almost 17 thousand from Buncombe County. Based on these estimates, there is about 250 thousand more North Carolinians and 8.5 thousand more people from Buncombe County who can qualify. In only 2 months of accepting applications, the state is more than half-way to enrolling all eligible persons for ME and so is Buncombe County.
On December 1st, North Carolina officially became the 40th state to expand Medicaid, the federal program for health insurance for low-resource individuals. ME increases health care access to eligible North Carolinians ages 19-64 and their families with earnings to 138 percent of the federal poverty level from 100 percent, based on their household size. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) dashboard to track ME enrollment is at medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/reports.
There are many ways to apply for NC Medicaid. Applications can be taken by phone, email, fax, or in person. Buncombe County residents can apply for Medicaid online and at any time at ePASS.NC.gov. Applications can be done in-person at the HHS Building on 40 Coxe Avenue, by calling 828-250-5500, or by mail. A printable application can be obtained online at the NCDHHS website.
Kody Kinsley, the head of the NCDHHS, released a statement when ME became available in the state, “Hundreds of people each day are gaining health care coverage and getting the care they need. Our work continues with state and community partners to support enrollment efforts to ensure as many people as possible can get covered.”
Listen to the full report below:
Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]
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